LAURENCE RUSH LAID TO REST IN OMAGH
Laurence Rush laid to rest in Omagh
BY RYAN McALEER
r.mcaleer@ulsterherald.com
The pain and suffering of victims can never be forgotten the funeral of Laurence Rush was told this week.
Delivering the homily at the Funeral Mass at the Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday, Fr John McDevitt paid tribute to the late campaigner's "relentless search" for truth and justice for his wife Libby and all the victims of the Omagh bomb.
Mr Rush passed away aged 70 on Sunday morning in Knockmoyle Lodge care home, where he had been residing after suffering a stroke before Christmas 2010.
Born in the Abbey Street area of Omagh as the oldest of a family of 12, Mr Rush met his future wife Libby at the age of 14.
They were married five years later and were together 39-years until the woman he described as his soulmate was killed along with 28 others and unborn twins in the August 15 1998 Omagh bomb. The mother-of-three had been working in the family run gift shop, Pine Emporium.
"Laurence like his whole family were devastated by the Omagh bomb and the death of his soul-mate Libby," said Fr McDevitt. "Since then Laurence put all of his energy into seeking truth and justice for Libby and for all the victims.
A former art teacher in Omagh CBS and the Omagh Tech, Mr Rush went on to become a successful businessman, founding Rushe Signs.
The late artist's penchant for signs was acknowledged during Fr McDevitt's homily, who described the significance of Mr Rush's painting depicting the icon of the Sorrowful Mother, which appeared by his coffin throughout the wake and was presented on the altar on Tuesday.
"Laurence Rush was a man who knew all about signs, it was his life's work," said the parish curate, who delivered the Funeral Mass alongside Fr Kevin Mullan.
"In the days before computer graphics, Laurence was a skilled and talented artist, cartoonist and sign maker.
"His handiwork is to be seen about the town."
Fr McDevitt continued, "In a sense, he himself became a living sign.
"He was a sign for all those people who watched their loved ones suffer and die and then live with the pain and loss themselves. Maybe it's why that icon spoke so powerfully to Laurence himself.
"In the midst of our new dispensation, we can never forget the suffering and pain of the victims," Fr McDevitt added.
"We remember today in our prayers all the victims of the Omagh bomb, all those affected by it and all victims of the troubles."
Describing Mr Rush as "a witty man", Fr McDevitt said the father-of-three "enjoyed people's company and loved nothing more than to be at the centre of a good party".
He continued, "Laurence Rush was a man of faith and he attended Mass here in this very church and like many of his generation, he had his own seat in the Sacred Heart.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rush family today. They hold fresh memories of Laurence as brother, father, grandfather and even more recently, as great grandfather.
"They have journeyed with him especially in his recent illness and were with him when he died on Sunday."
Following the Funeral Mass in the Sacred Heart, Mr Rush's remains were taken by funeral directors O'Kane Brothers Omagh to St Mary's Cemetery, Drumragh, where Monsignor Joseph Donnelly overseen the burial as the campaigner was laid beside his late wife.
BY RYAN McALEER
r.mcaleer@ulsterherald.com
The pain and suffering of victims can never be forgotten the funeral of Laurence Rush was told this week.
Delivering the homily at the Funeral Mass at the Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday, Fr John McDevitt paid tribute to the late campaigner's "relentless search" for truth and justice for his wife Libby and all the victims of the Omagh bomb.
Mr Rush passed away aged 70 on Sunday morning in Knockmoyle Lodge care home, where he had been residing after suffering a stroke before Christmas 2010.
Born in the Abbey Street area of Omagh as the oldest of a family of 12, Mr Rush met his future wife Libby at the age of 14.
They were married five years later and were together 39-years until the woman he described as his soulmate was killed along with 28 others and unborn twins in the August 15 1998 Omagh bomb. The mother-of-three had been working in the family run gift shop, Pine Emporium.
"Laurence like his whole family were devastated by the Omagh bomb and the death of his soul-mate Libby," said Fr McDevitt. "Since then Laurence put all of his energy into seeking truth and justice for Libby and for all the victims.
A former art teacher in Omagh CBS and the Omagh Tech, Mr Rush went on to become a successful businessman, founding Rushe Signs.
The late artist's penchant for signs was acknowledged during Fr McDevitt's homily, who described the significance of Mr Rush's painting depicting the icon of the Sorrowful Mother, which appeared by his coffin throughout the wake and was presented on the altar on Tuesday.
"Laurence Rush was a man who knew all about signs, it was his life's work," said the parish curate, who delivered the Funeral Mass alongside Fr Kevin Mullan.
"In the days before computer graphics, Laurence was a skilled and talented artist, cartoonist and sign maker.
"His handiwork is to be seen about the town."
Fr McDevitt continued, "In a sense, he himself became a living sign.
"He was a sign for all those people who watched their loved ones suffer and die and then live with the pain and loss themselves. Maybe it's why that icon spoke so powerfully to Laurence himself.
"In the midst of our new dispensation, we can never forget the suffering and pain of the victims," Fr McDevitt added.
"We remember today in our prayers all the victims of the Omagh bomb, all those affected by it and all victims of the troubles."
Describing Mr Rush as "a witty man", Fr McDevitt said the father-of-three "enjoyed people's company and loved nothing more than to be at the centre of a good party".
He continued, "Laurence Rush was a man of faith and he attended Mass here in this very church and like many of his generation, he had his own seat in the Sacred Heart.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rush family today. They hold fresh memories of Laurence as brother, father, grandfather and even more recently, as great grandfather.
"They have journeyed with him especially in his recent illness and were with him when he died on Sunday."
Following the Funeral Mass in the Sacred Heart, Mr Rush's remains were taken by funeral directors O'Kane Brothers Omagh to St Mary's Cemetery, Drumragh, where Monsignor Joseph Donnelly overseen the burial as the campaigner was laid beside his late wife.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/2040
Published Date: 08-Mar-12
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