Funeral held for Lily Thai, 23, who ended her life using SA’s voluntary assisted dying laws

Even in the final hours before taking her own life through voluntary assisted dying, Lily Thai showed love and kindness to others, her mother said at her funeral. Watch it here.

When Lily Thai took her final breaths, Annaliese Holland - a fellow terminal patient who became one of her closest friends while in hospice care - held her hand as she made a “pinky promise”.

“I pinky promised her, and I don’t ever break pinky promises, that we would cherish those last moments together,” Annaliese said.

‘Clouds’ by Zach Sobeich rang out at Centennial Park as friends, family and loved ones gathered to farewell 23-year-old Lily, whose decision to end her life by voluntary euthanasia has left a lasting legacy.

Inspirational Lily, who had been crippled with illness and pain for most of her young life, captured the hearts and minds of South Australians after sharing her story with the Sunday Mail earlier this month.

“Maybe someday I’ll see you again, we’ll float up in the clouds and we’ll never see the end,” the lyrics said – an apt goodbye from “sunshine in human form” Lily, whose profound bravery moved the nation in her final days on Earth.

Loved ones remembered Lily as tenacious and exceptionally intelligent, emotionally and academically, with a life that was large, adventurous and full of inquisitiveness.

REPLAY: WATCH THE FUNERAL

Lily Thai at Flinders Medical Centre's Laurel Hospice with friend Danika Pederzolli, 28, in her final days.

The daughter of culinary couple Kate Sparrow and Le Tu Thai, who she had an “exceptionally close bond” with, Lily had the “unusual” opportunity to meet with the funeral director before her service.

Before her death, Lily put together a playlist of music to comfort her family and friends – with a final request that her favourite artist, Billie Eilish, be played in the hearse as she was transported to Centennial Park.

The 23-year-old also planned to have her hair turned into natural diamonds for loved ones to commemorate her.

In her coffin, she had her Scotch College blazer, a collection of meaningful jewellery – including Buddhist beads and a gold locket with her parents’ hair – a painting of her beloved cockatoo Yoshi, a collection of soft toys, a silk eye mask and a wooden cross given to her by her cardiologist.

Lily asked loved ones to remember her love of Japan, which she visited twice, and its culture of kindness, thoughtfulness and consideration that appealed to her passion for social justice and inclusivity.

Lily Thai receiving medical treatment in 2022.

A passionate soccer player and member of the Adelaide Hockey Club when she was younger, Lily had hoped to one day become a specialist medical doctor.

Lily was formally diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) – a group of 13 disorders that affects the joints, skin and walls of the blood vessels – when she was 17, then auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) in 2021.

After SA’s voluntary assisted dying laws were brought into effect on January 31 this year, Lily made the decision to end her life after years of unbearable physical pain.

“I realised that I can’t have any more anaesthesia, so I (couldn’t) have any more feeding tube changes (or) surgeries,” she said.

“I decided that pain was so severe it wasn’t worth it, and I just wanted to take it into my own hands.”

On Wednesday afternoon, doctors administered a fast-acting intravenous medication and Lily took her last breath.

Lily’s mother, Kate, said her daughter had left a “deep and lasting impression” on the hearts of every person she had come into contact with – even being praised by nurses for her manners on her final day on Earth.

“(Lily) came into this world with eyes wide open and an abundant energy for love and life,” she said.

“She grew into a kind and compassionate young woman, engaging with people from many different walks of life. She became a beautiful young woman – intelligent, compassionate and brave.”

Lily in June 2017.

Lily Thai receiving medical treatment in hospital.

In the words of one of Lily’s favourite childhood characters, Winnie the Pooh, Kate ended her eulogy with: “If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart and I’ll stay there forever.”

Lily’s friend, terminally ill Annaliese Holland, who also has the rare AAG condition, said she had held Lily’s hand in her last moments.

In a poem, read out by her mother, Annaliese said Lily’s “selfless, gracious, loving and gentle” nature made all those around her feel special.

“Spending time with Lily, we had many intimate conversations – conversations that young ladies that are 23 years of age should not be talking about. But they are an important part of life and are not to be shied away from,” Annaliese said.

Annaliese Holland, who was also diagnosed with autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy, described Lily as a “true friend”.

“Last Wednesday, while holding her hand, I promised her that the 21st of June every year would be Lily’s day, (raising money for charity with) the selling of lilies, her favourite flower.

“I’ll always remember you, cherish you and keep you in my heart. We will be eating your dad’s pizza together up there together one day, I promise you. I will fight until I can’t … because no one should have to go through what we have at 23.

“I’ll be with you in the clouds again.”

Lily’s GP, Dr Verity Cooper, said she was in awe of Lily’s bravery and highly intelligent curiosity throughout her health battles – even instituting novel treatments that have helped other South Australians.

“Unlike parents we do have favourites – and Lily was certainly one of mine,” Dr Cooper said. “I’m still in awe of Lily … she really was one-of-a-kind.”

Lily’s close friend, Danika Pederzolli, described Lily as “sunshine in human form”, and had gifted her a bear with a heartwarming handwritten note in honour of their friendship.

The pair met through a St John’s Ambulance cadet program when Lily was 15 years old, and their friendship blossomed during Lily’s agonising final years.

Danika said Lily’s family and friends were “very lucky to know her,” and Lily had “taught her a lot about herself”.

Lily Thai and Danika Pederzolli in the back of an ambulance, enjoying McDonald's at the beach. Picture: Danika Pederzolli

Lily Thai, 23, at Laurel Hospice with friend Annaliese Holland. Picture: Supplied

Lily’s story was met with an outpouring of love from thousands of South Australians, including Liz Habermann, whose son Rhys chose to end his life aged 19 in 2017 – five years before VAD laws finally passed in the state.

Ms Habermann said Lily was brave to take control of her life, and death, and her willingness to share her story “makes it real for people … (that) younger ones are faced with this sort of thing”.

“People don’t like talking about death, let alone choosing your death,” she said.

“It doesn’t make it any less sad but if we can help just one other person through a situation by being aware … we just need to talk about it more and let people know that there is this choice.”

For anyone who wishes to honour Lily’s memory, her family has asked for donations to the Hospital Research Foundation through this link.