A man who passed away following a road collision in Mayobridge last week has been described as a “loveable rogue” at his funeral today.
Darren Rooney died following a collision with a car on Friday morning (December 29). He was involved in the incident on the Hilltown Road in Mayobridge at around 6am.
His funeral was held this morning in St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church in Rostrevor.
Addressing the congregation, the priest thanked those in attendance for joining to celebrate Darren’s life on what was an ‘extraordinarily sad afternoon.’ He said “dark clouds of grief, deep pain, loss and utter sadness swirl all around us this afternoon.”
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The priest described a young man who was ‘stubborn’ about his attendance at school. So much so – in his younger years – that parents Teresa and Danny were forced to “bribe him with farming toys, which is how he got the name ‘Farmer Joe’.”
Darren was such an avid hunter, that the priest described his loving partner Kathrina as the “only person who caught on that they couldn’t stop his love for hunting.”
He continued that “Joe was a wonderful step-dad to Aimee-Lee, taking her under his wing gently and kindly”, adding that he had bought her first horse which they used to train together.
Then came along his other beloved children; James, Jake and Mollie.
Prior to the funeral, Kathrina had said to the priest: “the boyo did things backways but with the children he couldn’t be faulted.”
Referring to his mischievous nature, he said Darren was an “imp and loveable rogue and I say that affectionately and with a smile”.
He added: “When you think of Darren, think of Joe.”
Darren’s passing is deeply regretted by his sorrowing partner, sons, daughters, mother, brothers, grandmother, stepfather, mother-in-law, the Rooney and Morgan families and the wider family circle.
Family flowers only have been requested. Donations if desired should go to ‘Life After’, a Northern Ireland charity that supports families and friends bereaved by accidents on the roads from 2017. Contact Curran Funeral Directors Rostrevor or any family member.
