CRASH DAD’S SANTA PLANS
Tragic Stephen buried on weekend he was to treat children
A DAD killed in a horror two-car smash had planned to bring his two children to see Santa this weekend.
Tragic Stephen Marron, 47, died when a car ploughed into his on Tuesday night in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
Yesterday his daughter Andrea, nine, and six-year-old son Franco – who had been looking forward to watching The Late Late Toy Show with their dad – carried presents to the altar at his funeral.
Canon Shane Mccaughey told mourners: “It is such a sad time in the month of Christmas for a family to be distraught and to be so hurting.”
THE heartbroken children of a dad killed in a horror two-car smash placed his Christmas presents on a church altar at his funeral yesterday.
Stephen Marron died on Main Street, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, last week.
Yesterday the town came to a standstill as hundreds turned out to pay their last respects to the popular 47-year-old.
Stephen’s wife Helen, their children, his parents and sisters led mourners to St Mary’s Church – it can hold 600 people and was filled to capacity.
The service began with symbols representing Stephen’s life brought to the front of the church.
His daughter Andrea, nine, presented two family photographs and his six-yearold son Franco carried a plaque which was a present they had planned to give to their dad on Christmas Day.
Other symbols were a Castleblayney hurling jersey, a Blayney Rovers soccer top, a hurley and a sliotar. Members of the two clubs formed a guard of honour outside the church.
Canon Shane Mccaughey told the hushed congregation: “On Tuesday night last, Stephen was surprised by death and the suddenness and sadness of his passing has caused much heartache and grief for his family and this community.”
He said people had gathered to grieve “the loss of a husband, a parent, a son, a brother, an uncle, a colleague, and a friend, but also to give thanks for the life of Stephen Marron”.
Mr Mccaughey added: “Someone who was so important to our lives in so many different ways. Someone whose presence was so life-giving and now is dead.”
He recalled how Stephen lost his sister Patricia, saying: “They have gone down this journey before – in November 25 years ago they followed the small coffin of an 11-year-old girl to this church.
“I know the Toy Show was on last Friday night on RTE and the children of the country were so much looking forward to that.
“I know Stephen’s son and daughter were so much part of that as well. It is difficult to list all the things he did for the parish.
“From selling tickets to delivering envelopes, no task was too awkward nor no challenge too great.”
The congregation heard how Stephen had helped deliver hot meals to the poor and elderly, and later started delivering from the chip shops in the evenings.
He was a devout member of the church and all-round Good Samaritan.
Canon Mccaughey said: “Stephen progressed to be a collector and then a Minister of the Word.
“He was the first chairperson of the
parish safeguarding committee, and eventually assistant sacristan.”
He said Stephen had assisted him for the removal and funeral Mass for a local woman, Mary Forde, who had died in a car accident and he said her month’s mind Mass was held last night. He also outlined how Stephen met his wife Helen and they had married in Rome.
Canon Mccaughey said: “The only reason he was working on Tuesday night was because he had planned an outing with Helen and the children this weekend.
“In the community Stephen was the go-to man for a myriad of things and no one who sought his help was ever refused.”
After the prayers of the faithful, Fr Mccaughey also asked for prayers, “for all those involved in the incident on Tuesday night and their families”.
Before the Mass, he said Stephen’s family “are in a state of shock”. He added Stephen’s children were preparing this weekend to go away for a little treat to Galway – Stephen had arranged for them to visit Santa Claus.
Canon Mccaughey added: “It is such a sad time in the month of Christmas for a family to be distraught and to be so hurting when the rest of our country rightly so is celebrating Christmas, the birth of Christ, the coming of Santa Claus and all those good things.”
Garda Michael Devlin, who was also injured during Tuesday night’s incihad dent, is still recovering and members of his family attended the funeral.
Flowers have been left at the street pole where he lost his life.
A sign on the shutter of Lin’s takeaway said, “As a mark of respect to Stephen Marron, a valued employee of Lins take-away we will not open until 5pm today and will not be operating delivery service. Rest in peace, Stephen.”
The devoted pillar of the communuty was laid to rest in the cemetery beside the church.
James Tomany, 34, of Keady, Co Armagh, has been charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Stephen last Tuesday.
He is also charged with endangerment of a garda.