The funeral of a Shannon teenager who passed away suddenly this week has heard how she brought ‘light and colour’ to many people’s lives.
16-year-old Aoife Johnston was laid to rest this morning after she passed away having become ill with meningitis over the weekend.
Father Arnold Rosney began today’s funeral mass in Shannon’s St John and Paul’s Church by saying simply ‘we shouldn’t be here’.
Aoife was described as a ‘beautiful young woman’, a ‘wonderful young daughter’ and a great classmate to her fellow pupils in St Caimin’s Community School, where she was in class as recently as last Friday.
Mourners heard how her parents James and Carol are going through ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’ since she became ill and subsequently passed away.
Aoife’s white coffin was positioned at front of the altar, alongside the Christmas crib, which was described as one of her favourite times of the year.
Fr Rosney outlined the contrast to those gathered in the church.
Aoife was a 6th year student and would have been preparing to sit her mock exams early in the new year before doing the Leaving Cert next summer.
Her sister Meagan told those gathered how she’d recently expressed a desire to began studying social care at third level.
The congregation was told how her family always saw her as ‘unique’ and the baby of the house.
Meagan told mourners how she hoped Aoife would be reunited with her late nana Nuala, with the two adoring one another.
Aoife’s survived by her parents James and Carol, sisters Meagan and Kate, grandparents Jimmy and Evelyn, boyfriend Cillian, relatives and friends.
She’s been laid to rest in Illaunmanagh Cemetery this afternoon.
