Funeral of Enniskillen woman Ellie Flanagan (23) told she 'sprinkled stardust' in people's lives
The funeral of the 23-year-old woman killed in Enniskillen has been told that she “sprinkled stardust” throughout the lives of others.
The funeral mass for Ellie Flanagan took place at St Michael’s Church in the Co Fermanagh town at 11am today, and she was laid to rest afterwards in Cross Cemetery.
She had been found dead at an address in the Corban Avenue area of the town last Saturday; a man aged 45 years old is currently charged with her murder.
Monsignor Peter O’Reilly, in his remarks to mourners, said: “Ellie was a young woman who brought energy and colour into the lives of others.
"Her love of family, her laughter with her cousins, her enthusiasm for theatre and pantomime, her delight in music and dance, and her kindness in the work she did with children are memories that will remain very precious now.
“The shock of these days has been very real. The grief is raw.
"And no words spoken here this morning can fully express what so many hearts are holding.
"But we are not here without hope.
"This church, this faith, and this Mass place before us the promise of a God who knows Ellie by name and whose love for her does not end.
“We come in sorrow. We come in love.
"And – as her family have asked – we come in bright colours, because Ellie brought brightness into the lives of others.”
There was a reading from John chapter 14, when Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me.
"There are many rooms in my Father’s house; if there were not, I should have told you.
"I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too.”
Father Reilly went on to speak of her early medical challenges, her love for her family, of her summers spent in Bundoran “when the caravan would fill with singing, carry on, laughter and stories,” and of her part in local pantomimes where she often played “the good fairy or the fairy godmother, taking care of the younger chorus children”.
“She was the one sprinkling stardust on stage, while also sprinkling stardust in real life,” he said.
"Her enthusiasm, her laughter, her kindness, the sparkle in her eye: did we not enjoy all of that?
"And did she not enjoy it too?
"Ellie loved life in Enniskillen."
He drew his homily to a close, saying: “If today is a day of sorrow, and it certainly is, then there will also be another day, another place, in God’s time, that will be a day of joy.
"And what joy that will be.
"Ellie loved life in Enniskillen.
"And now, in God’s mercy, Ellie is loving life in eternity.”
She was described in her funeral notice as the beloved daughter of Karen, cherished granddaughter of Attracta and Roger, special grand-niece of Marian Haggins and Joe Clarke, loving niece of Kevin (Martina), Jenny (Owen), and Paddy (Melissa), and adored cousin of Niamh, Aodhan, Shay, Pauric, Sarah, Aoife, James, Conan and Callum.