‘By now he’ll be the lead singer with the angels’
HE was his family’s pride and joy but Michael Quinn was taken too early when he died after an asthma attack aged just 14.
Now his heartbroken family are determined to keep his memory alive and on what would have been his 19th birthday gave him the party he deserved.
At his graveside they gathered in an emotional celebration and brought along a gospel choir as well as a huge golden star made from balloons – and released doves into the sky.
And his loved ones reminisced about Michael as they comforted each other.
“We do all we can to keep his memory alive,” said proud grandmother June Hunter, 60, of Benwell, Newcastle.
“We had the gold star made from balloons because I know he would have been famous by now. I might be biased but he was Nana’s superstar. That is what I used to call him.
“He loved singing. He could turn his voice to anything. He was a lovely pianist and he had a laugh that was infectious and it made everyone in a room laugh with him.”
Tragedy struck when Michael, from Lemington, Newcastle, collapsed at his home in October 2014.
Despite the efforts of paramedics to save him, he suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of the sudden attack and lost his life. On Thursday, his family and friends gathered at West Road Cemetery in Newcastle to celebrate his 19th birthday.
And, as they congregated around his 7ft headstone, the gospel choir from the Spring of Life Christian Centre led the hymns and finished by singing Happy Birthday.
The Walbottle Campus pupil’s grave was decorated with balloons and flowers as his family and friends wiped away their tears, including his mum Linda Walker, 37, and her partner Lenny Conroy, along with brothers and sisters Laurie-Leigh, 16, Grant, 15, BoPeaches, 11, Tiger-Lily, 10, Leonard, seven, Freddie, five, and Bluebell-Beatrice, three.
His other nana, Margie Malloy, aunties Catherine Quinn, 39, Paula Malloy, 34, and cousin Dylan Mason, 14, also attended.
Choking back tears, mum, Linda said: “This day means the world to me as it is Michael’s 19th birthday. He was my superstar, he really was.”
Nana Margie said: “Being here with him and all the family is very special. I’m heartbroken that I lost my grandson. He was my shining star and I’d give the world to hold him in my arms again.”
Michael had dreams of starting a music career and was a huge fan of former X Factor contestant Ella Henderson, who even sent flowers to the family home after he died.
Grandmother June added: “I’m sure he will be the lead singer in the angels’