The sun had reached its zenith in the sky and was casting a silver sheen across the channel between Spike Island and Haulbowline in Cork Harbour as relatives brought the body of Valerie Greaney from the shadowed confines of St Colman's Cathedral in Cobh out into the midday brightness.
From mid-morning, friends and relatives and neighbours had been gathering beneath the soaring limestone spire of the 19th-century cathedral to receive the remains of the popular mother of two who, just over a week ago, had attended Christmas Day Mass there with her husband, Michael.
But just three days later, Ms Greaney was fatally injured in what gardaí have described as "a tragic family incident" which saw Mr Greaney attack his wife and daughter Michelle (21) at their home at O'Neill Place at the top of the town before taking his own life.
Michelle was taken to Cork University Hospital suffering from a serious stab wound, but she was allowed out to attend her mother’s funeral and join with her younger sister, Sarah (16), who had been sent from the family home by her mother before the tragedy to raise the alarm.
There was an emotional scene inside the church as the sisters embraced as they began paying their final farewell to their mother whose affection for her family was vividly recalled by local Cobh curate, Fr Pat O’Donoghue, in his homily.
“Valerie was a very caring person and cared for her mother and father at home for a long time. She was dedicated to her family and they did everything together. Board games, movies and holidays were all special shared times and she dedicated herself completely to every moment with her family.
“Valerie was known in her extended family as someone who was always quick to forgive. She would often just walk away from an argument, moving on quickly from the argued point,” he said, adding it would be difficult to find someone to speak ill of her while she never spoke ill of anyone either.
Fr O’Donoghue said Ms Greaney’s “strength of character still stands now as a powerful inspiration to her family” as they struggle for answers in the wake of the tragedy which shocked not just Cobh and the local community but the whole country.
“We pray so that we can hand over our questions to God and leave them with Him so that He can take the loose treads of the tapestry of our shared lives, and weave them into His higher purpose and plan for our world which will always remain in need of His help,” he said
Following the funeral Mass which saw a cup of tea, Ms Greaney’s work uniform, her bingo book and a framed picture of herself and her husband brought up as offeratory gifts. Ms Greaney’s sister Hylda Murphy recited a poem, urging people to remember her sister with happiness and gratitude.
“You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she comes back or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left. Your heart can be empty because you cannot see her or you can be full of the love you shared,” she said.
"You can cry and close your mind and be empty and turn your back or you can do what she would want – smile, open your eyes, love and go on," said Ms Murphy to applause from mourners who included Ms Greaney's brothers, Martin and Anthony Hayes, as well as Mr Greaney's parents, brothers and sisters.
After Mass, which saw Bishop of Cloyne Dr William Crean say the prayers of final commendation, mourners walked behind the hearse bearing Ms Greaney's remains up the hill and past the house at Sandymount where she and her husband ran their physical therapy clinic.
There was a poignant image as, behind the walking mourners, a large black funeral car inched out from the curtilage of the cathedral, carrying young Sarah, alone in the rear seat of the limousine as it followed her mother’s remains to her final resting place at St Colman’s Cemetery.
Just across the road from the family home at O’Neill Place, bedecked with floral tributes, Ms Greaney was laid to rest in the family plot at St Colman’s where she will be joined by husband Michael, who will be buried there following a private funeral Mass on Saturday.
