‘Darling’ Olivia always had a smile
Father of Berkeley victim pays tribute to his fun-loving, outgoing and driven daughter at her funeral
THE emotional father of Olivia Burke yesterday paid tribute to his ‘darling daughter’ whose laughter and zeal for life was cherished by those around her.
And in a poignant tribute to her cousin Ashley, who Olivia died clinging onto in the Berkeley balcony collapse, her father, Paul Burke said: ‘ You t wo guys departed this world together side by side and may you be together in God’s place and fondly look down on the rest of us.’
Ms Burke was the fourth out of the six students who perished in last Tuesday’s tragedy to be laid to rest.
Award- winning Irish musician Hozier sang a heartfelt acoustic version of his hit track Work Song at the end of yesterday’s moving ceremony.
Olivia was a fan of his and the musician discreetly arrived to perform the song at the end of the funeral Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, in Foxrock, south Dublin the same place where she was baptised.
The family of Eimear Walsh, who laid their daughter in the same church on Tuesday, were also present at Olivia’s funeral Mass.
They were there in solidarity to support the Burke family, despite having only buried their own daughter the day before.
The pair’s friends, distraught by the loss of their closest pals, were never far from Paul Burke’s mind during his eulogy and Olivia’s father told them: ‘I know you girls are hurting at the loss of both Eimear and Olivia.’
Speaking about his daughter Olivia, Mr Burke said: ‘She was a caring and considerate person. I think she more worried about your problems than chatting about her own, although she did chat.
‘She always had a smile and loved to have a joke and a laugh at any opportunity. She loved the nightlife out there chatting and having a good time and especially a boogie on the dance floor.’
While Olivia’s fondness for dancing was met with laughs from the audience, he said she was able to balance her fun side with a strong ‘work ethic’.
Hundreds from the close community of south Dublin joined Paul, Paula and Olivia’s brother Gavin in mourning the loss of their daughter and sister.
Family members held hands going into the church with the remains of Olivia as the community came out in full support of the victims.
The bond between the families directly affected was once again evident at the ‘celebration of Olivia’s life’.
Olivia, 21, was one of six students who tragically lost their lives in last week’s balcony collapse in Berkeley, California.
The funerals of Eoghan Culligan and Eimear Walsh took place yesterday, while the funeral service of Olivia’s cousin Ashley Donohoe took place last Saturday in northern California. Niccolai Schuster was laid to rest yesterday in Dublin.
In a different part of the city, Olivia’s father Paul delivered his heartfelt eulogy to his ‘darling’ daughter.
He said: ‘Not being able to experience where Olivia’s potential journey in life would have taken her, be it in her career, her friendships, her loves and so on. It will certainly cause us heartache in the times ahead.
‘We are really here for the celebration of Olivia’s life.
‘Olivia packed a lot in in her short 21 years. Be it travel or work experiences, friendships, education and so on.’
He spoke how about his daughter developed a close relationship with a number of friends during her time in secondary school at the Loreto College in Foxrock. The ‘ close- knit’ group of friends travelled to Vancouver after their first year of college.
Olivia’s father also gave a special mention to Aoife Beary and her family. He prayed that she may recover over time.
Aoife was one of those who sustained serious injuries when the balcony collapsed last Tuesday.
He said his daughter, while always ready to share a laugh ‘countered this high life... with hard work… and really had a determination to be selfreliant as much as possible and her work ethic could not be faulted.
‘In fact her steely determination to succeed, to achieve a set goal no matter how high or how low was ever present and I have to say that work ethic was something I particularly admired over the years,’ he told mourners.
Olivia’s funeral mass opened with the hymn Here I Am Lord sang by Brenda Brooks, as friends and relatives brought symbols of Olivia’s life to the mass.
Her cousin Amanda Donohoe, whose sister Ashley also died in last week’s balcony collapse, helped to bring gifts representing her short life to the altar.
These included a Loreto College journal to symbolise her time at her secondary school, a photo of Olivia and her King Charles Spaniel dog, Skipper. There was also a Ted Baker bag to symbolise her love of fashion and a throw that was given to Olivia for her 21st birthday with her life in photos printed on it.
The congregation heard how Olivia enjoyed three great years at the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology doing an entrepreneurship and management degree.
Throughout her life there was one person who meant a lot to the young 21 year-old and that was her cousin Ashley Donohoe.
Monsignor Dan Whelton told the joint funeral service for both girls last Saturday that Ashley’s mother found the two side by side in the aftermath of the collapse.
Ashley’s grief- stricken mother Jackie rushed from her home in north-west of Berkeley to the scene on Kittredge Street and found saw them holding each other.
Jackie and George, Ashley’s mother and father, were understood to be in attendance yesterday.
Olivia’s father said: ‘ There’s just one special person I must mention and that’s [her] cousin and soul mate Ashley Donohoe.
‘Although they were separated by over 6,000 miles they were incredibly close. Right from the time they played together as little 18 month old kids.
‘Be it in San Fran or in Dublin, all the way to recent years when they continued to trade visits, none more exciting than the surprise arrival by
‘I know you girls are hurting’ ‘Must mention her soul mate’
Ashley for Olivia’s 18th birthday.
The Chief Celebrant was Fr Frank Herron, the administrator of Foxrock Parish. He welcomed Olivia’s fellow J1 students and those watching the live stream of the Mass on webcam in America.
In his homily he said: ‘God is not a builder, an architect or an engineer. He leaves all that to us. ‘He was there that night at the party. ‘He was there as the young people present enjoyed themselves.
‘And he was there as the accident happened… falling with them.
‘This week our community of Foxrock has reached out to each other probably as never before.
‘Olivia and her friends have galvanised us in a way which we wouldn’t have thought possible just a short week ago.
‘They brought out the very best of us as a parish family.’
Fr Herron informed the congregation that a tree was planted near the church and covered with ribbons and messages of hope in memory of Olivia.
The service was attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan, US Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O’Malley and two aide- de- camps on behalf of the Taoiseach and the President.
Olivia’s remains were carried out to the balmy church yard as a rendition of Amazing Grace rang out as Hozier quietly slipped away.
Afterwards Olivia’s body was laid to rest at Deansgrange Cemetery.
After yesterday’s funerals for Olivia and Niccolai Schuster, the final funeral of those who tragically lost their lives in the Berkeley balcony collapse will take place today with Lorcán Miller’s service at 11am in Rathmichael Parish Church, Ferndale Road, Shankill.
Burial will take place privately at the request of the family.