Tipperary crash victim's funeral is told he was young man who 'lived life to the fullest'

The heartbreak of a young life cruelly cut short was felt deeply by the devastated family and friends of traffic accident victim Gediminas Urbonas at his funeral Mass in Holycross Abbey today (Thursday, December 18) where he was remembered as someone who taught others to “live fully, love deeply and laugh loudly”.

The 21-year-old Lithuanian immigrant from Abbey Court, Holycross, who was known to family and friends as Ged, was one of two young men who died tragically in a four-vehicle collision at Killeen, Ballinunty last Saturday evening. 

Fr Celsus Tierney, PP of Holycross & Ballycahill Parish, welcomed and extended his deepest condolences to the young man's grief stricken family gathered in Holycross Abbey for his funeral Mass this morning, including his mother Jolanta, his older sister Saulena, aunt Zaneta and cousin Rida. He also welcomed family members in Lithuania attending the ceremony online, including his father Saulius and grandmother.

His thoughts were also with the deceased's many young friends attending the ceremony, and he welcomed his workmates from Revive at the Turnpike, who had also lost someone special to them. 

Fr Tierney said it was a lovely tribute to Gediminas to see so many people at his funeral Mass. It showed the impact this young man had on them.

In a moving and emotional tribute, his sister Saulena told mourners she never thought she would be standing here saying goodbye to her little brother, who was “the life of the party" and "lived his life to the fullest”.

She wished she had learned to stop worrying about everything and enjoyed life the way her brother did. 

Saulena recalled her brother had always been very protective and worried about her but she had been the same way about him.

She fondly remembered how Gediminas had a habit of dropping things from his pockets and leaving them in people's homes and cars. She recalled the mornings searching for items like house keys that her brother dropped in the car as she brought him to work.

“As much as I gave out to you about that, I would do anything to have you back,” she said.

She cherished the memories they shared, especially the “pit stops” they made on the way home from work in the evenings to get a bag of chips and his favourite garlic dip.

Saulena poignantly recalled the last time she spoke to her brother last Saturday morning.

He had lost his phone and asked her to ring it. Though she “huffed and puffed” over this latest missing item, she helped him to look for it, and as he found it, she told him she had to go to the Christmas markets.

“You said: 'Okay Sauly, I am going off with the boys to get food'. Never did I think that was going to be the last time I saw and spoke to you.”

“Ged taught us how to live fully, love deeply and laugh loudly and that will stay with us forever. My dearest brother, may you get the best bed in heaven. I love you so much, and I wish I told you that more often.”

Saulena concluded her tribute by thanking the emergency services personnel who attended the scene of the accident and all her brother's friends for their support over the past few days in "being a shoulder to cry on”.

Friends of Gediminas brought symbols of his life to the altar including a Lithuanian flag representing his home country, the BMW logo representing his love of cars, a CD showing his love of music and dancing, his favourite shoes and bucket hat representing his interest in fashion and a box of berry tea, which he liked to drink.

Other friends of his recited readings and prayers of the faithful and brought offertory gifts to the altar during the Mass. 

Fr Tierney began his homily by saying he was conscious there were no words he could use that will ease the pain for the deceased's family and friends. But he hoped and prayed in the years to come they would be able to find some comfort from what he had to say and in the prayers offered at the Mass.

He said “shock and doubt and disbelief” were some of the reactions people experienced since news of the accident and Gediminas' death broke last Saturday evening.

He noted it had been the turn of the family of David Lahart from Killenaule, who also died in the crash, to say farewell to their loved one yesterday. Both families were joined in grief and shared the same pain that was “indescribable and unquantifiable”.

“Our presence here today will not take away the pain or it won't ease the suffering but in time it may give some comfort and consolation to family and friends who today feel such a loss. To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die. In other words, death can never fully grasp anyone fully from us.”

Fr Tierney recounted that Gediminas was born in Lithuania in 2004. He and his family came to Ireland in 2010, initially settling in Carlow before relocating to Tipperary in 2015. He finished his primary school education in Holycross before attending secondary school at Coláiste Mhuire in Thurles. He was working in mechanical operations at Revive at the Turnpike at the time of his death.

His hobbies included video games, working out, working on cars, both putting them together and taking them apart, and going to music festivals.

Fr Tierney pointed out Gediminas' death was probably one of the first times many of his friends had come in close contact to death, when you begin to understand for the first time the real pain associated with the loss of someone you love. It was a difficult and painful thing but it was part of the life which we live.

He said while Gediminas' life was short his impact was “immeasurable” and the memory of him will live on in the hearts and minds of those who loved him.

He urged all of his friends to honour him by living their lives with gentleness, kindness and thoughtfulness.

And he suggested they take one good quality Gediminas had in his life and make it their own.

“If you do that then Gediminas will live on through you.”

At the end of the Mass, the music of Lukas Graham's song, 7 Years, was played as the coffin was carried from the church.  Gediminas Urbonas remains were cremated at a private ceremony at Kennedy's Funeral Home in Thurles. 

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