Today marks Keterricia Tyvonne Hardy’s second birthday spent in heaven.

Shelia Hardy Mixon, Keterricia’s aunt, said that on Nov. 30, 2001, Keterricia was hit by a bus and died later the same day at Vaughan Regional Hospital. She would have turned six today.

“She was like a daughter to me,” Mixon said.

Jesse and Jennifer Hardy, Keterricia’s parents, have grown in their spiritual strength as has the whole family since the death, Mixon said.

Her brother, Jesse Hardy, is planning on buying a special head piece for Keterricia’s tombstone, and will visit his daughter’s grave today with his wife.

Mixon said that Keterricia’s parents visit the grave every holiday.

“Even on New Year’s,” Mixon said. “They went on New Year’s.”

Mixon, who often picked Keterricia up after school, remembered the Christmas just before Keterricia passed on.

She had bought some outfits for her niece, Mixon said, and given them to Keterricia just two weeks before her death.

Mixon said Keterricia came to her house one day and she just went to her closet and gave the gifts to her then instead of waiting.

Keterricia got a chance to wear two of them before she died.

Mixon said her niece also got a chance to meet Santa Claus just after Thanksgiving. Santa was at the Selma Mall right after the holiday and Keterricia had her picture taken with him.

Mixon said her niece’s parents made sure Keterricia’s needs and wants were always met. Jesse Hardy had a love for shoes that he shared with his daughter, Mixon said, and Keterricia had snake skin boots at the age of one.

Jennifer Hardy would spend part of every day combing Keterricia’s hair and ensuring her barrettes always matched.

Mixon said she would often take Keterricia to McDonald’s and Wal-Mart.

“She loved Wal-Mart,” Mixon said.

Mixon said Keterricia loved clothes and wouldn’t go anywhere without her purse.

Keterricia also had a love for her father’s antique truck, and would ride with him on Saturdays to the Selma Flea Market. She would often say, “I love to ride” when she rode in her father’s truck.

Mixon said that the memories of Keterricia still linger even though she knows that her niece is with God.

“Keterricia Tyvonne Hardy continues to be one of God’s little angels,” Mixon said.