Michael is remembered for kindness and love for family
WE must not allow the horror and brutality of his final hour to define our memory of his wondrous and beautiful life, Fr Noel Rooney told mourners at the funeral of Michael Snee on Monday afternoon.
Hundreds gathered at St Joseph’s Church, Ballytivnan, to pay their final respects to Michael who died last week following a violent attack on him at his home.
A guard of honour was provided by staff from St John’s Hospital where Michael worked.
The church was packed to overflowing, as outside hundreds more gathered to listen on a PA system, while thousands followed the Mass online. “Over the last few days memories of Michael have been shared in laughter and in tears and those memories should remain with us.
“Let us pray that we would never allow the horror and the brutality of his final hour to define our memory of his wondrous and beautiful life,” Fr Noel Rooney PP, St Joseph’s, told mourners.
“Let our memory be of Michael as a beautiful life filled with love, kindness, and generosity.
“He wasn’t afforded much dignity in the last moments of his life, we afford him dignity now by remembering his beautiful life, a life filled with love, his kindness, his goodness and his generosity. Let these be the memories that fill our hearts, our lives. “What a beautiful life Michael Snee did live, what a kind life he lived. He was the quintessential gentle person, he was much-loved by all and had a heart filled with love for all.
“He was a sensitive man who couldn’t do enough for his family, friends and loved ones. These are the memories we should keep with us in the days and months ahead. Let these be the memories that bring us laughter and tears as we continue our journey of life,” he said.
The Mass was described as a celebration of Michael’s life in the specially prepared booklet.
Fr Rooney praised Michael’s community for rallying around the Snee and Fowley families: “As always, the community rises to embrace a bereaved family all the more so in the face of such tragedy, such brutality, all the more so has the community rallied around them over the last few days. For Michael’s family, agony, suffering and crucifixion continue after the couple of days they have gone through, despite the fact they have been surrounded by immense love. Absolutely immense love.” Symbols brought forward with the offertory gifts by friends and family members included a photo of his beloved dog, Oscar, a coffee mug, his glasses and a family photo.
Speaking about Michael’s work as a porter/care assistant in Cregg House and St John’s Hospital, Fr Rooney said many had commented on the beautiful way he had with those who lived in Cregg House and St John’s. His gentle skill in dealing with the most complex situations and the most complex of people. “This was Michael, the lovely, gentle, sensitive, caring, compassionate person that he was,” he said.
He reminded people how Michael had worked in many pubs in Sligo town, his dapper style and his love for animals, but in particular his dog, Oscar, who he noted was probably better fed on choice cuts of steak and chicken than most people. He reminded mourners of Michael’s “witty, dry, Sligo humour”. He stressed how family was at the centre of Michael’s being.
Aaron, Michael’s nephew, delivering the eulogy, said the family would be forever grateful to the many, many people who offered them support in the last week.
He recalled how, while full of mischief growing up, Michael was the apple of his parent’s eye. He was, he said, multi-talented, and in his youth he travelled all over the country competing at Irish dancing.
He loved travelling, visiting many countries and he was very proud of his pristinely kept home and his garden.
“He loved his fashion and was always presented exceptionally well,” Aaron said, adding that another great passion was his cooking. “On the day he was taken from us, Michael had cooked a beautiful meal for myself and grandad [John]. This was something he did regularly, and always did so well.”
Many people had, Aaron said, spoken over the past number of days about how Michael had helped so many other people, whether it was taking new staff under his wing in St John’s Hospital or helping his neighbours in City View.
“Michael worked for many years in St John’s and in Cregg House. He loved his job and it was only due to his visual impairment that he had to retire early,” he said,
He said Michael regularly brought him and his nieces Shannon and Sophie on holidays. They had many fantastic and often very funny memories from those holidays, he said. Michael Snee, who celebrated his 58th birthday two days before the violent attack which led to his death, was buried in Sligo Cemetery.