Community mourns kind, funny Joanne

A SINGLE red rose adorned the coffin of 20-year-old Joanne Mangan at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Newcastle, as her heartbroken parents, siblings, relatives and friends gathered to say farewell.

The priest officiating at the murder victim’s funeral on Saturday took the opportunity to make an impassioned plea to everybody to do everything they can to protect their friends and their children, reminding the congregation that “human life is precious”.

Two of the songs that lit up Joanne’s life, Everything I Do (I do it for you) by Bryan Adams and the upbeat, optimistic chords of UB40’s Kingston Town rang around the church, summoning up happy memories of the young woman who made friends wherever she went.