Six-year-old Danielle Joy Janssen-McVicar died suddenly just before Christmas

Danielle Janssen-McVicar had undergone surgery two days before she died. Photo / Herald.

Festive joy turns to grief after 6-year-old found dead in bed two days before Christmas

Six-year-old Danielle Joy Janssen-McVicar couldn't wait for Christmas.

She loved the festivities and would have adored all the presents wrapped under the tree for her.

But the little girl didn't get a chance to open them. On Friday morning, just two days before Christmas, the bubbly Lynmore School pupil died in her sleep.

One of her older sisters, Carrisa Allen-Janssen, speaking on behalf of shocked family including Danielle's mum Maureen Janssen and dad Ed McVicar, said it had been "the worst Christmas" as they came to terms with losing their beloved girl.

Danielle Joy Janssen-McVicar died suddenly before Christmas last year.

The family still have few answers on what happened to Danielle, who was also known as Dani or DJ.

She had undergone surgery two days earlier, to have her tonsils and adenoids out, and had been discharged the following day.

Allen-Janssen, who lives with her mum and Danielle, said her sister went to bed "perfectly fine" on Thursday night.

She was also fine when her mum checked on her in the middle of the night but, when they went to check her on Friday morning, she had died.

The family are still waiting on some test results, but for the time being are focused on farewelling Danielle today.

"She was so excited for Christmas. She loved Christmas."

Allen-Janssen said the family sat next to Danielle's casket, opening her presents for her.

"She had heaps of presents and she would have loved every single one of them, especially the pool."

The new togs and boogie board would also have been a hit with the water-loving kid.

She described her sister, who was born on her 18th birthday, as "animal obsessed", who wanted to be a vet when she grew up.

Pink was her favourite colour and, while she was a "girly girl", she loved getting out and doing things, Allen-Janssen said. "She was a very adventurous girl."

Danielle loved to sing and dance - one of her favourite songs was Katy Perry's Firework - and she enjoyed being the centre of attention.

"Just before Christmas we were at the supermarket checkout and she started singing and dancing to [the song] at the checkout. Everyone was staring at her, smiling."

Allen-Janssen said it was a special memory she would hold on to.

"She was just a really bubbly, bright child who had a lot of friends. Everyone needs to know how special she was."

Allen-Janssen said her sister had a real love of cars which she'd inherited from her dad - and was able to name many makes and models.

Danielle will be taken to her funeral service today on the back of her dad's ute, travelling past the school she loved one last time before being met at the crematorium by kids with sparklers. The family also plan to release 99 helium balloons.

Allen-Janssen said her baby sister was around the same age as her four nieces and nephews who ranged from 2 to 10 years old, with some of the children struggling to understand what had happened.

"Everyone is holding up as best as they can. It's a horrific time for everyone and a time that should have been so happy."

To help ease the pressure of the unexpected funeral costs, extended family have set up a Givealittle page. To donate go to givealittle.co.nz/cause/daniellejoysfuneralcosts.

Lakes District Health Board spokeswoman Sue Wilkie said the board extended its "deepest sympathy" to Danielle's family.

She said the board could not comment on the case because it was the subject of a coroner's investigation.

"Once a case review has been carried out, that information will be passed to the coroner ... as part of his coronial investigation. Work has begun on preparing for the case review, which is expected to occur during January."