Family remember their ‘courageous princess’ as Saoirse is laid to rest

A DOLL held closely by her mother, and a colourful sunflower-shaped toy in the hands of her father, symbolised the innocent joy a little girl brought to people’s lives.

A priest told mourners at Saoirse Heffernan’s funeral it’s not the length of a person’s life that matters, but the amount of love they bring to others even when their earthly stay is all too short.

In a homily, Fr Kevin McNamara also said she was a ‘hugger and kisser’ who reached out to everyone she met.

Five-year-old Saoirse, who died from Batten’s disease — a disorder of the nervous system — was laid to rest in her native Keel, Co Kerry, yesterday.

Other children with the normally fatal disease along with their parents, from Derry and Monaghan, attended and were given a round of applause by an otherwise hushed congregation.

Prayers were said for them and for Saoirse’s two-year-old brother, Liam, who also has the disease.

It is hoped to shortly send Liam to a New York hospital for medical trials.

Many people wept as they sympathised with parents Tony and Mary Heffernan and filed past Saoirse’s white coffin in the church, which was full to overflowing.

At the beginning of a Mass of the Angels, Mary stepped onto the altar to pay tribute to Saoirse whom she described as their darling, amazing daughter.

“From the moment you came into the world we knew you were so, so special. With your big, blue sparkling eyes, you lit up our lives and every precious day you were with us,” she said.

“No words can express how deeply we love you, our most courageous princess whose strength inspires us.”

Ms Heffernan said Saoirse was the glue that kept the family together. They would always love her and she would never be forgotten.

Gifts handed up at the offertory included a framed family photograph and a small handbag.

Fr McNamara, of Killarney, who concelebrated the Mass with Fr Neilus Horan, said Saoirse brought great love into other people’s lives and greeted everyone she met with a hug and a kiss.

Recalling the day she had been diagnosed with Batten’s disease in September 2009, he said her parents were obviously devastated.

However, Saoirse put her hand on her mother’s back and said: “Don’t be sad, I’ll get better.”

Fr McNamara went on: “Rather than calling her a little angel, I will realistically call her a little saint because she was able to draw the best out of people.

“In an era when there’s an obsession with power and ‘mé féin’, she was able to unite people, had a great sense of goodness and kindness, never complained and always had that lovely smile.”

Cork singer-songwriter John Spillane, a friend of the family, and Stella Randles from Kenmare sang at the Mass.