‘A Glistening Diamond’ - Mountcharles mourns Gwen Barry
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Gwen Barry’s Funeral was held at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Mountcharles on Monday, November 2
Mourners at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Mountcharles heard that the recently passed Gwen Barry was “a glistening diamond” and “a mammy to all of us,” as they paid their respects at her Funeral Mass.
Led by Fr Liam Boyle, a eulogy was read by Gwen’s brother Patrick Barry.
Gwen died on Friday, October 30, following an illness courageously borne, whilst surrounded by her loving family and under the exceptional care of all the staff of Letterkenny Oncology Unit. Her Funeral Service was held on Monday, November 2.
Near the beginning of the service, possessions symbolising Gwen’s life were brought to the front of the congregation, including a photo of a plane representing her love of travelling, a family photo, a mirage of Donegal colours to highlight her love for Donegal and Mountcharles, a CD for her love of music, and shells from the shore as “her love of the shore was known to everybody.”
Patrick said his sister was “loving, beautiful - inside and out, loyal, generous, a confidante, inspirational, warm, cranky, positive, empathetic, protective, supportive,” before describing her as “a glistening diamond.”
He said: “Gwen was all of these words and even more to us, the family.
“She was a champagne-inclined, fashionista diva with a taste for Lexus cars, spa treatments, good food and the odd drink of champagne.
“She was a dishwasher with a serious OCD problem on how a dishwasher needed to be filled.
“Everybody here knew Gwen. She was a mammy to all of us.”
Patrick concluded his eulogy by reading a poem entitled ‘Remember Me’ by Anthony Dowson, which he thought captured “what Gwen would want.”
Fr Boyle recalled seeing Gwen’s photographs, commenting: “There was a sense of joy, a certain brightness in her expressions in the photographs,” and that “she really is a diamond to those around her.”
Gwen is sadly missed by her heartbroken parents John and Valerie, her siblings Patrick, Ann, Jackie, John and Kevin, her sisters-in-law Noeleen, Johanna and Niamh and brothers-in-law Shane and Craig, nieces and nephews: Rossa, Aoibheann, Ailbhe, Maggie, Síofra, Isla and Éanna, her large extended family, godchildren, and a wide circle of friends.