Mourners at the funeral of much-loved young Lurgan man Shane McFadden, who passed away suddenly at the weekend, have heard him so perfectly described as a “genuinely kind, polite and caring person”.
Shane passed away on Saturday, a dearly-loved son of Margaret and Paul and cherished grandson of Winnie and the late Sammy Gowdy, and Dympna and the late Tony McFadden.
At a beautiful Requiem Mass in St Peter’s Church in Lurgan on Friday morning, Parish Priest, Fr Colum Murphy, led tributes to a young man who was “a pleasure to know and to be around”.
Earlier, gifts were brought to the front of the church – a photograph of Shane, a rugby ball, indicative of his love for the sport, and his McDonald’s hat, representing “the job that he loved so much”.
Fr Murphy spoke of the shock at the loss of someone who was so well-loved, which came across in the words and sentiments so widely shared over the past six days.
He said: “The immense outpouring of love for this young man has been extraordinary to see, from so many people who called at the house or posted online, all who knew Shane from different places and in different ways in life and all of whom said the same thing, that this was a man who was so intelligent, so capable, so kind, so loving and just a pleasure to know and to be around.”
Fr Murphy said when he spoke to his heartbroken parents, Paul and Margaret, they “couldn’t be clearer”, that Shane was just “a wonderful son and such a genuinely kind, polite and caring person”.
And the celebrant continued: “He could also be a messer and enjoy having fun and craic, especially with his friends or with his aunts and uncles, and that he could, at the same time, show such care and real politeness when talking with his grandparents. In fact, Margaret said that she used to worry that he was actually too nice.
“She had noticed a couple of years ago that he had never once swore in front of them, and had never even used the ‘F word’. One night, when Margaret was in bed, Shane was playing a video game and clearly something happened that wasn’t good in the game, and Shane very loudly shouted the ‘F word’. Margaret laid back down in bed and thought, ‘thank God’.”
Dad Paul had also told Fr Murphy that he was “so proud” that, “as well as truly loving people, Shane was also a real animal lover”.
Recalling one such occasion in recent times which demonstrated that love of animals so clearly and perfectly, Fr Murphy continued: “Just after Shane had bought a new car not so long ago, he crashed the car and, as it turns out, the reason he crashed was because he was avoiding a cat on the road.
“He had such care and love for this poor wee animal that he thought it better to crash his car than to even maybe hurt the cat.
“And his love for animals was also very clear and his love for his beloved dog, Sue. In fact, that picture on the front of your booklets and on social media, with that absolutely incredible smile, comes from a larger picture that Paul showed me where Shane is playing with and loving his life with Sue.
“Whether it be from those with whom he played rugby, his former classmates and teachers, his colleagues in McDonald’s, his friends, his family, and a wide range of people whose lives were touched by Shane, he will be, very obviously, greatly missed.
“We are left now with a void in our lives that just simply cannot be filled. We are left absolutely broken, with so many questions that cannot be answered. We are shrouded in pain, in grief, in an agony that goes to our very soul. We are engulfed in darkness and, in times like this, it can be so difficult to know where to turn.
“But one thing that I have seen – and I think we can all see over these past few days – is just the incredible amount of love that has been shown. And all of that comes from Shane. He was not only loved immensely, but he also loved in return, incredibly deeply, and this sort of love cannot die. This love cannot be broken. This love is the love that Christ speaks about and that comes from God Himself.”
Reassuring the family of ongoing support and bringing some beautiful words of comfort on their loss, Fr Murphy added: “This love conquers all things, overcomes all things and not even death itself can break it. You still love Shane – and Shane still loves you.
“In the difficult and challenging times ahead, this fact is the one thing that you can cling to and be sure of. This love which comes from God and through Shane will be your support, your health and your hope, as well as knowing that all of us here and in this community will continue to offer you our love and prayers and whatever is needed in this time ahead.”
After Requiem Mass, mourners left St Peter’s Church to make their way to Aghagallon Cemetery (Maghernagaw), where Shane was laid to rest.
To his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and all who had the pleasure of knowing him, we offer our heartfelt condolences at this time. May he rest in peace.
