‘In terms of the love he brought, and the mischief and magic he caused, he lived a fuller life than many others ever will.’
HEARTBROKEN COMMUNITY BIDS FAREWELL TO JACK MATTHEWS.
JACK Matthews had a huge circle of friends and those friends gathered around him last Friday, packing the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Termonfeckin and filling the churchyard beyond to say their final farewell to a treasured friend.
The 20-year-old passed away tragically following an accident just metres from his home on September 16th and the shock at his sudden passing was palpable as his funeral Mass took place last Friday.
His cousin Caomhín told the assembled congregation that: ‘In his short time with us he was loved by so many and brought love into the lives of those around him, in particular John, Fiona, Jane and Dylan but also the wider family and a huge, huge circle of friends’.
He said Jack was the kind of person who ‘never made an enemy’ and this had been evidenced in the days since the accident by the army of ‘ loyal and devoted friends’ who supported the family during such an unimaginably difficult time.
‘No one ever fell out in Jack’s circle of friends because he wouldn’t allow it,’ said Caoimhín. ‘One of that circle of friends told me that if Jack ever did wrong he’d be the one apologising for it.
These are some of the things that give you a measure of the man he was.’
Fr Aidan Murphy told the congregations simply that ‘sometimes words aren’t enough’.
‘ This morning we gather in huge numbers one week on from the truly awful news of Jack’s death which has shocked everyone,’ he said. ‘His family, his friends and the whole community. Fiona and John, Jane and Dylan, today we mourn with you because Jack your firsti children,hild your bibig brother has died.
‘We gather around you, his family, as believers in Jesus and some who do not. But we all want to take your pain away because now your hearts are broken, now we have few words to comfort you.’
Caoimhín told mourners that the family had spent the previous night in their grandmother’s house and said if she had been here she would have been ‘ so proud’ to hear how people spoke of Jack and the traits he had were the things she valued most; loyalty and kindness.
‘She had a kind and gentle soul and so did he,’ he said.
‘He had a cut on his hand before the accident. We were in the house yesterday and the girls were putting some make up on it. I said something along the lines of: ‘He’d be mortified’ the girls all said: ‘no no we used to practice on him all the time, nail varnish, make up there wasn’t a bother on him’,’ said Caoimhín.
‘ That was the kind of guy he was, he was comfortable in himself. That kind of quality enabled other people to be at ease with themselves and happy with themselves and that was a rare and beautiful thing to see in a person.’
He said Jack was also a protective big brother who always looked out for his younger siblings, Jane and Dylan.
‘John, Fiona there’s nothing anyone can say other than you have great cause to be proud of the son you raised. I’ve heard a lot of stories from his mates over the last few days.
‘I’m sure they’ll be recounted many times over the years to come. The circle of friends we’ve seen are a real example of waht friendship should be,’ he said.
Caoimhín said they took solace from the fact that Jack was not alone when he passed and said their thoughts were very much with Luke at what was a very difficult time for him also.
Paying tribute to his cousin, he said: ‘You don’t need me to tell you what a good guy Jack was, that’s why there are so many people here today. You know, I know we all know. The challenge now is to honour that memory, give Jack the life he should have had bby living up to the bar thath hhe set.
‘Measured in years his life was cut far far too short and that’s a cruel and horrible thing but by any other measure in terms of the love he brought to the world, the mischief and magic he caused, and the memories he left, he lived a fuller life than many others ever will.
Rest in Peace Jack.’
Addressing Jack’s family, Fr Murphy spoke of Jack’s goodness, his boundless energy, his warmth and his kind nature.
‘You know best his immense popularity, you watched him grow. In his young life Jack was clearly blessed with so many great friends. Over the past week you have been there for him and his family. You have reminded all of us that we need others on our journey,’ he said.
To the many young friends gathered in the church, Fr Murphy said: ‘Continue to honour Jack’s name by continuing to treasure life, to enjoy it, to try to keep safe, to honour the dignity of life. Strive to bring the best out of yourselves. For yoruselves, for your family, for your community.’
He said Fiona, John, Jane and Dylan had been left ‘shattered and number’ by the loss of Jack. ‘How could you not be?’ but said they had shown incredible strength over the days following the accident.
‘Life will sadly never be the same. If we could, we would take this sorrow from you. What we can do is journey with you. Each of us in their own way because as people we are all limited,’ he said. ‘Keep Jack’s name in your conversations, his enthusiasm for living in your memory.
‘As believers we can claw back hope from the midst of loss.’
A white dove was released in Holy Cross Cemetery in memory of Jack as he was laid to rest.
CONTINUE TO HONOUR JACK’S NAME BY CONTINUING TO TREASURE LIFE, TO ENJOY IT, TO TRY TO KEEP SAFE, TO HONOUR THE DIGNITY OF LIFE. STRIVE TO BRING THE BEST OUT OF YOURSELVES. FOR YOURSELVES, FOR YOUR FAMILY, FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.’