Farewell to ‘two little princesses’
It was broken only by muffled sobs and the toll of funeral bells as the remains of Zoe Butler, six, and her little sister, Ella, two, were carried by their aunts and uncles into the Star of the Sea Church in Ballycotton, Co Cork.
Their heartbroken mother, Una Butler, stood strong in the cold November air, clutching her little girls’ baptismal candles.
She was supported by members of her family, the O’Riordans, and by members of her late husband, John’s family, the Butlers, who have been united in grief since tragedy struck.
Zoe and Ella were found dead at their home in nearby Ballybraher on Tuesday. Their father, John, 43, who killed them, died a short while later after his car crashed and burst into flames.
Fr Aidan Crowley described the sisters as “two beautiful little girls, two little princesses” and told hundreds of mourners that nothing could explain what happened that morning.
“John was a loving father. He loved his children. Don’t take my word for it. Listen to the parish, to Una. He would do anything for his children.”
He also spoke about the imperfection of human nature. “Because we are shackled by the fragility and imperfection of human nature, there are aberrations of mind and body that affect us. If anything can come from this tragedy, perhaps society should try to, in some way, lessen the imperfections, or to at least be aware of how those imperfections can affect people,” he said.
Zoe and Ella’s cousins prayed the little girls are now playing together in heaven.
As the coffins were carried from the church, Zoe and Ella’s cousins blew dozens of fragile bubbles which soared high into the darkening skies above Ballycotton Bay.
The little girls’ families will unite in grief again this morning for John’s Requiem Mass in Cobh, Co Cork.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
