‘Emily could light up a room with her smile’

A HEARTFELT tribute was paid by a grieving husband to his wife yesterday at her funeral Mass — just days after they were married in the same church.

The moving words of 34-year-old Sean Kennedy brought applause from mourners, as he described his late wife Emily as his “soul mate”. He added she could “light up a room” with her “smile and vibrant personality”.

Several hundred mourners — including some from the US, where Sean is from — filled the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Termonfeckin, Co Louth, to bid farewell to the 27-year-old.

Emily died following a crash, less than two kilometres from the church, on Monday morning.

Emily and Sean — who is a US navy diver — got married in the same church just 12 days ago. They had a civil ceremony in America last year.

The couple had been due to return to their home in San Diego the day after the accident; instead her distraught husband and family yesterday said their final farewells to her.

At the start of the Mass, Emily’s brother John Marcus spoke proudly of his sister. “If I told Emily how many people turned out today to see her off she wouldn’t believe me. It is incredible to see you all here today.”

He read a passage from the book of Lamentations that says: “My soul is shut out of peace, I have forgotten what happiness is.”

The main concelebrant at the Mass was parish priest Fr Aidan Murphy, who said the “truly awful tragedy” of her death left her family and friends stunned.

He said Emily’s life had been short but full of love and generosity.

Fr Murphy, who married the couple, also described Emily as “beautiful” and “talented”.

Her wedding rings, trainers, graduation photograph and law books were some of the items brought to the top of the church as memories of her life.

Emily, who had just completed her bar exams in America, was laid to rest in the Old Cemetery, Termonfeckin.