REBECCA HOBAN'S life had been "pitted with unhappiness", but she would be remembered for her great generosity and the way she cared deeply about people, her funeral was told this week.
Fr Bernard Murphy described the manner of Ms Hoban's death as "terrible" and said that as he had been opening the church on the Thursday morning before Christmas, one of the neighbours had come to him and advised him to go to Ms Hoban's family home.
"He told me something terrible had happened, and it had. A great light had gone out."
Ms Hoban (28), was stabbed at a house in Ranelagh, Dublin last Wednesday night and pronounced dead at St Vincent's Hospital a short time later. Her funeral was held on Christmas Eve in the Carmelite Church on Whitefriar Street, around the corner from Mercer Street in the south inner city where she had lived.
About 200 mourners were led by her mother Jacqueline, her father Martin and her grandfather Robert. Her brother and sisters were present, while her son Brandon (10), who is in foster-care, was not.
Fr Murphy said it was important to remember that Ms Hoban's death was not only the loss of a life, but of a person. As people talked about Rebecca, memories were embraced. "They are important memories, they are very important, because when we talk about a person they come alive. There is a great reality in that."
He said that "when people speak of Rebecca they speak of her great gift of caring".
"There was a sincere responsibility in the way she cared for people, in the way she cared for her grandmother. And there was also an impishness about her that brought joy and laughter. Rebecca loved to have a laugh."
Fr Murphy said he knew a lady to whom Ms Hoban had one day brought a great bunch of flowers.
"She said to Rebecca, 'Don't be spending all your money on buying me flowers.' And Rebecca said to her, 'It's alright. Sure there's loads of flowers in the [St Stephen's] Green.' "
Referring to the death of her boyfriend in the last year and other family difficulties, he said her "journey through life" had been "pitted with unhappiness".
"But she always had a feistiness that made her come back, that gave her a spirit to live life. So now it is for all of us to remember Rebecca, who has become our Christmas child. She will always be remembered at Christmas."
There were readings from Ms Hoban's sisters, Jody and Anna, while a soloist sang songs including Abide With Me, Amazing Graceand Going Home. Ms Hoban's remains were brought to Mount Jerome for cremation.
