Caitlin Strain remembered as a ‘constant beacon of love and hope’ 

Caitlin Strain, the nine-year-old Inishowen girl who has passed away after a battle with cancer, was “a constant beacon of love and hope” who “lit up the hearts of so many people,” mourners at her requiem Mass have heard.

The Burnfoot girl passed away on Saturday at Letterkenny University Hospital after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in February last year.

The Mass at St Aengus' Church in Burt on Tuesday heard that she was “a source of warmth” who “brought the best out of so

many people of all ages”.

Her small white coffin was brought into the church accompanied by her family, including her parents Thomas and Eimear and her siblings Maria, Danielle and Laura and Michael.

Caitlin had undergone extensive treatment - including nine months of chemotherapy - in Dublin, Germany and in the US, where she received proton therapy following an extensive fundraising campaign that raised hundreds of thousands of euro.

Her uncle Fabian Gibson told the hundreds of mourners that “there are no words that can ease the pain of saying goodbye to one so young”. 

The family were experiencing “a grief that overshadows all others. A loss that we will never overcome”.

In Caitlin, the family were “blessed with an angel sent to us from God above,” he said. 

She was “a most precious girl who brightened up our lives, filling all our hearts with love”.

“Every obstacle was faced with a smile and never a hint of fear.”

Caitlin was, he said, “an inspiration to us all - a radiant star on our darkest nights. A constant beacon of love and hope, ensuring us that everything would be all right.”

“Her courage and bravery knew no bounds. She was a hero to her sisters and brother and how blessed were both her parents to be able to say they were her father and mother.”

Amazing Grace was sung as the coffin was brought into the church and Fr Declan Gibson, a brother of Caitlin's mother, described her as “a very tender-hearted child” who “had so many beautiful graces”.

He said Caitlin's treatment in Houston, Texas had given “real hope” as her tumours had begun to shrink. But she took a turn for the worse after suffering seizures.

Gifts brought to the altar to represent her life included her fiddle, a family photograph and her phone, which she used to keep in touch with friends and family when she was away from home receiving treatment.

“She lived a short life but touched so many hearts in this short time,” Fr Gibson said.

During her illness, many people prayed for her across Ireland and in the US, Australia, France and England. 

The pupil at St Aengus’ National School in Bridgend “lived a short life but touched many hearts in this short time”.

“Caitlin had an interest in people and welcomed every visitor to the family home at Ballyderowen with the offer of a cup of tea or coffee.

“She was a wonderful girl. When you came to the house you couldn’t leave not knowing Caitlin,” he said.

Always looking at the brighter side, she encouraged others not to worry and had “a beautiful disposition of not complaining”.

“Her courage was a rare gift and it was rare to see it in such abundance.”

In every way she was “unwavering” and she “persevered quietly, not wanting attention,” Fr Gibson said. 

“It is remarkable that someone of nine years of age has touched people all over the world. She lived a beautiful life in so many, many ways.”

Parish priest Fr Francis Bradley said Caitlin’s home “will give heaven a race for its money if it is to be outdone in love and tenderness and grace”.

“If love alone could have kept Caitlin alive - if sacrifice and devotion and effort on the part of the family and so many others throughout the country could have done it - Caitlin would still be alive amongst us today. But sadly that was not to be the case.”

As well as her parents and siblings, Caitlin is survived by her grandparents Monica Gibson and Ann Strain, her aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and friends.

She was laid to rest in St Mura’s cemetery, Fahan.