SAD FAREWELL TO WOMAN OF KINDNESS, CARE, LOVE AND PEACE
Sad farewell to woman of 'kindness, care, love and peace'
AS OMAGH woke to yet another morning of mourning on Thursday last, churchmen were faced with the unenviable task of offering words of comfort to the bereaved.
The first of the day's eight funerals was that of Mrs Geraldine Breslin, one of three Watterson's drapery store workers to perish in the blast.
St Joseph's Hall, beside the Sacred Heart Church, which was under renovation, was packed to capacity, with many more standing outside in the drizzling rain under a grey sky.
As Mrs Breslin's remains were carried into the hall, followed by her husband, Mark, and teenage son, Gareth, another hearse was approaching St Columba's Church across the street.
And as a bell tolled to mark the beginning of the ceremony for Debra-Ann Cartwright, a woman at St Joseph's began to cry because she, like so many others, wished it was possible to be in two places at once.
The congregation in St Joseph's heard Rev. John Forbes describe Mrs Breslin as a woman who exemplified the Christian qualities of ''kindness, care, love and peace".
After reading from St Matthew's Gospel, he condemned the perpetrators of the attack.
"Even now, neither my mind nor my heart has begun to understand the depth of evil in those people," Fr Forbes admitted.
He said their callousness in planting the bomb, and surrounding it with as many people as possible, in an attempt to destroy and maim, defied all belief, all understanding, and all reason.
Reached Out
"The blackness of evil lay heavy over our town, but in this blackness, lights began to shine. People reached out and helped the injured, gave hope to the dying, and held the dead," he said.
"And this goodness, which was such a challenge to evil, gave us back the gift of hope.
"God seemed to be far away, many of us asked 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?', but today our God speaks to us through the words of Scripture. And as we listen, another light begins to twinkle in the depths of our souls: the light of truth.
"In the light of this truth we come to remember Geraldine Breslin. A woman of such beauty and kindness, that words fail to describe the wonder of all she was."
Fr Forbes praised her as a daughter who loved her parents, a sister who adored her family, a mother who doted over her son, a wife who dearly loved her husband, and a person who was a real friend to all.
"Her life was a gentle light which shone for all to see, and we who shared her light glowed in the happiness we found there," he said.
In a final tribute to their aunt, Mrs Breslin's young nieces brought offertory gifts to the altar, as a soloist sang the hymn, 'In you my God, may my soul find its peace.'
Dr Seamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry, expressed his sympathies to Mrs Breslin's family. He also welcomed Mr Seamus Brennan, who was representing the Irish Government.
"It has often been said on occasions like this that words are hollow. No matter how well intended, they pass over people's heads, when they are as traumatised and sad, heartbroken and grief stricken, as the bereaved are today.
"If words do not get through, then the presence of so many people here is an indication of their love for Geraldine," he said.
Healing
Dr Hegarty said that the healing, process will take a long time, and the people must simply take it a day at a time, moving forward in small steps.
He said that God was present on Saturday, in all who administered help, gave words of consolation, and moments of comfort.
"Remember, you are the people who mediated the healing power of Christ himself on that occasion," he told the congregation.
Addressing the young people, Dr Hegarty said that while what has happened contradicted everything they had been taught, they had seen true Christianity in the community in the past few days.
Dr Hegarty assured the people of Omagh of his great concern for them, and admitted he had never experienced so much injury, hurt and destruction in his 32 years in the priesthood.
He said that while the buildings of Omagh could be repaired, the emotional scars will remain, and the vacant chairs at home will be a constant reminder for the families who have been bereaved.
"We are all in this together, and we will come out if it together. If we can believe that the Lord is with us then nothing will stop us. Peace be with you all," he concluded.
The cortege left the church to the strains of 'Nearer My God to Thee', and proceeded to Mrs Breslin's final resting place at St Mary's cemetery, Drumragh.
AS OMAGH woke to yet another morning of mourning on Thursday last, churchmen were faced with the unenviable task of offering words of comfort to the bereaved.
The first of the day's eight funerals was that of Mrs Geraldine Breslin, one of three Watterson's drapery store workers to perish in the blast.
St Joseph's Hall, beside the Sacred Heart Church, which was under renovation, was packed to capacity, with many more standing outside in the drizzling rain under a grey sky.
As Mrs Breslin's remains were carried into the hall, followed by her husband, Mark, and teenage son, Gareth, another hearse was approaching St Columba's Church across the street.
And as a bell tolled to mark the beginning of the ceremony for Debra-Ann Cartwright, a woman at St Joseph's began to cry because she, like so many others, wished it was possible to be in two places at once.
The congregation in St Joseph's heard Rev. John Forbes describe Mrs Breslin as a woman who exemplified the Christian qualities of ''kindness, care, love and peace".
After reading from St Matthew's Gospel, he condemned the perpetrators of the attack.
"Even now, neither my mind nor my heart has begun to understand the depth of evil in those people," Fr Forbes admitted.
He said their callousness in planting the bomb, and surrounding it with as many people as possible, in an attempt to destroy and maim, defied all belief, all understanding, and all reason.
Reached Out
"The blackness of evil lay heavy over our town, but in this blackness, lights began to shine. People reached out and helped the injured, gave hope to the dying, and held the dead," he said.
"And this goodness, which was such a challenge to evil, gave us back the gift of hope.
"God seemed to be far away, many of us asked 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?', but today our God speaks to us through the words of Scripture. And as we listen, another light begins to twinkle in the depths of our souls: the light of truth.
"In the light of this truth we come to remember Geraldine Breslin. A woman of such beauty and kindness, that words fail to describe the wonder of all she was."
Fr Forbes praised her as a daughter who loved her parents, a sister who adored her family, a mother who doted over her son, a wife who dearly loved her husband, and a person who was a real friend to all.
"Her life was a gentle light which shone for all to see, and we who shared her light glowed in the happiness we found there," he said.
In a final tribute to their aunt, Mrs Breslin's young nieces brought offertory gifts to the altar, as a soloist sang the hymn, 'In you my God, may my soul find its peace.'
Dr Seamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry, expressed his sympathies to Mrs Breslin's family. He also welcomed Mr Seamus Brennan, who was representing the Irish Government.
"It has often been said on occasions like this that words are hollow. No matter how well intended, they pass over people's heads, when they are as traumatised and sad, heartbroken and grief stricken, as the bereaved are today.
"If words do not get through, then the presence of so many people here is an indication of their love for Geraldine," he said.
Healing
Dr Hegarty said that the healing, process will take a long time, and the people must simply take it a day at a time, moving forward in small steps.
He said that God was present on Saturday, in all who administered help, gave words of consolation, and moments of comfort.
"Remember, you are the people who mediated the healing power of Christ himself on that occasion," he told the congregation.
Addressing the young people, Dr Hegarty said that while what has happened contradicted everything they had been taught, they had seen true Christianity in the community in the past few days.
Dr Hegarty assured the people of Omagh of his great concern for them, and admitted he had never experienced so much injury, hurt and destruction in his 32 years in the priesthood.
He said that while the buildings of Omagh could be repaired, the emotional scars will remain, and the vacant chairs at home will be a constant reminder for the families who have been bereaved.
"We are all in this together, and we will come out if it together. If we can believe that the Lord is with us then nothing will stop us. Peace be with you all," he concluded.
The cortege left the church to the strains of 'Nearer My God to Thee', and proceeded to Mrs Breslin's final resting place at St Mary's cemetery, Drumragh.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0359
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
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