Amy :Looughrey who was tragically killed in two vehicle crash in Co Donegal on Thursday
‘ANGUISH and broken hearts’ took over the lives of a family whose Christmas was plunged into mourning after the death of ‘a bright and radiant light’, a priest told mourners today at the funeral of Amy Loughrey.
The 25-year-old tragically died on Thursday night at 11 o’clock in a two-vehicle collision at Fahan.
She was killed instantly when her Fiat Stilo car was in collision with a Ford Focus.
Amy was heading back from her work at a restaurant in Donegal when tragedy struck.
The family of Ms Loughrey, who live in the Waterside in Derry, cancelled their Christmas as a result of the horrific news.
At today’s funeral Mass, hundreds of mourners packed into St Columb’s Church in the Waterside, Derry.
“The lights on the Christmas tree were put out, symbolising how a bright light in the Loughrey family had also been extinguished,” Fr Michael Canny said.
“The hope and joy of Christmas had been replaced by disbelief, anguish and broken hearts because Amy would not be coming home alive again.”
“Amy who was a bright and radiant light for all who knew her was always generous with her time; she was always kind and thoughtful and empathetic with an infectious smile.
“She loved travelling, worked endless hours so as to be able to go on the next trip. She spent a few years in Gran Canaria teaching English as a foreign language. But no matter where she was she always loved coming back home.”
Fr Canny visited the family home following Amy’s tragic death and told how the family had cancelled Christmas.
Fr Canny said the reality was that the light of a “bubbly, full of life and always giving person” has been extinguished.
“Even though you, the Loughrey family, Christmas lights have been extinguished by the death of Amy, as believers in the risen Christ we have the light of faith, a light that nothing can put out,” he told the congregation.
