Grieving family and friends broke down in tears today at the funeral of Natalie McLaughlin and her daughter Ella, with mourners told their “only consolation” is that “they are together” in heaven, reports The Mirror.
Natalie, aged in her 20s, and six-year-old Ella lost their lives following a crash involving a car and a van near Carndonagh in Donegal on Wednesday, July 2.
Natalie’s partner, Tyrone, and their two-year-old daughter, Rhea Rose, sustained serious injuries in the crash, which happened just two weeks after the family returned from a holiday in Portugal, reports The Mirror.
There were emotional scenes as Natalie and Ella’s white coffins were brought forward for a joint funeral Mass. A touching photograph of the devoted mother and daughter was displayed beside them.
Tyrone, little Rhea Rose, and Natalie’s parents, Joanne and Danny McLaughlin, were comforted during the Mass celebrated by Parish Priest Fr Con McLaughlin at the Sacred Heart Church in Carndonagh, reports The Mirror.
He said the “community has come together in sadness” and noted that people from across Ireland were united in mourning the “unspeakable” loss.
He recalled that as separate ambulances transported Natalie and Ella to hospital, the devastation of their loved ones became clear, saying a “cross has been firmly nailed to these families today”, reports The Mirror.
Fr McLaughlin spoke of the “unspeakable loss” suffered by Natalie’s partner Tyrone, daughter Rhea Rose, and her parents Joanne and Danny.
He offered a prayer that the “unspeakable pain, an emptiness in our hearts today, will ease” with time.
He described the “grey skies” that hung overhead as fitting, with only “the footsteps of those carrying the coffin” breaking the silence, reports The Mirror.
The priest recounted how the pair had set off in their red Opel Corsa on a journey that “would rob them of their young lives”, and despite “gallant efforts of the emergency services, only two of the occupants survived”.
Fr McLaughlin said: “My abiding memory is of little Rhea Rose, only 18 months old, drifting in and out of consciousness and how she would raise up her little arms as if she wanted to be lifted up. She had two broken legs. Her granny showed photos from happier times on a recent family holiday. The scene revived memories for me when I was in Buncrana where there were multiple car tragedies. Natalie’s mother said her only consolation was that they are together,” reports The Mirror.
The priest referred to a photo “that we have all seen this week,” and mourners were overcome with emotion as Fr Con held it up during the Mass.
Symbols of the lives of the young mother and daughter — including Natalie’s nurse’s uniform and some of Ella’s toys — were brought to the altar, followed by the song Die With A Smile by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, reports The Mirror.
Fr McLaughlin held up Ella’s picture, saying, “this is the song that Ella would sing around the house” and declared that she and her mum Natalie are now “united in paradise”.
During two heartfelt eulogies, delivered by emotional family members, mourners heard: “Our Nat was the best big sister, mum, friend, niece, cousin, and daughter. She put everyone before herself, maybe sometimes a bit too much at times. It was obvious how much of a caring person she was. When you asked Natalie for help, you already knew the answer. She was just that loving and thoughtful. When Nat asked, ‘how are you?’, you could see how much she genuinely cared. As a mother, she took care of two beautiful children, who were always reminded that they were the most loved in the world. Natalie would always make you feel loved and always made time for you, even if she didn’t have it. Natalie loved her job and was an amazing nurse, which is no wonder as she was such a kind, caring, loving and vibrant young woman, who would make anyone feel welcome with her smile and soft-spoken nature. I know you are listening, Nat. You know how much everyone loves you,” reports The Mirror.
Mourners also heard: “Our little Ella had six years and, although six years doesn’t sound like a very long time, it is very hard to remember life before Ella. She was the light of our lives and the centre of our entire world. For a girl so young, there is absolutely no doubt that she was entirely sure of who she was. She was so outgoing, so intelligent, and lived such a full life in those very short six years. On her recent holiday to Portugal, just two weeks ago, she learned how to swim and play chess. With her perfect little girl, with her beautiful face and sassy attitude, it was easy for Ella to leave a lasting impression on everyone she met. For the last six years, we have been kept entirely entertained and happy on our toes. Ella had the biggest personality and the sweetest soul. She was pure and had the ability to love so intensely with tight cuddles and showers of kisses, plus finding love notes she had placed around the house. We will love and miss you, Ella, every second of every day for ever,” reports The Mirror.
Natalie had worked as a nurse in a Carndonagh medical practice, and Ella had been in Senior Infants at St Patrick’s Girls’ National School in the town.
They were laid to rest together in the cemetery beside Carndonagh’s Sacred Heart Church, reports The Mirror.
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