by Róise Collins

A cloud of grief blanketed Dungloe as the heartbroken community gathered to say goodbye to little Joey Forker.

The nine-year-old boy passed away in a tragic incident at his family home in Meenmore on Friday evening.

The much-loved pupil at Scoil Chróine was warmly remembered for his life full of joy, laughter and mischief.

The Requiem Mass was held in St. Crona’s Church, where just weeks earlier Joey had made his First Holy Communion. He was also baptised in the same church.

Mass was celebrated by Dungloe parish priest, Fr Johnny Moore and concelebrated by a number of local priests.

Joey’s heartbroken family carried forward the symbols of his life to the altar.

Each was accompanied by a short reflection read aloud by Fr Sean, a family relative.

The first symbol was a Twin-Cam toy carried by his brother Jason, symbolising his love for his daddy’s car. This was followed by a bottle of Joey’s aftershave, carried by his brother Jordan.

A toy digger was carried to the altar and those gathered heard how Joey “loved to play with his toy diggers and work like his daddy”.

An image of his beloved dog Holly was also among  the symbols, representing his love for animals.

Also presented to the altar were a speaker, a PlayStation and a photo of a Lexus – representing everything he loved.

A pool ball was also carried forward, as Joey loved to play pool with his brothers in Paidi Ógs and Séan Ógs”.

Among the gifts was joey’s boxing gloves. He has been looking forward to starting back at training again.

Mourners carry the remains of little Joey Forker from St Crona’s Church, Dungloe, following his funeral Mass earlier today.

Joey’s Godfather delivered a moving eulogy with a heavy heart, remembering the beloved young boy.

“Though his time was far too short, Joey lived everyday with joy, confidence and loved and touched everyone around him.

“Joey was never shy, wherever he spoke with people we were always on the edge of our seats, we never quite knew what he was going to say next.

In a moving anecdote, his godfather shared how Joey refused to cut his hair for his First Holy Communion because he was keen to get a perm.

“And true to Joey that’s exactly what he went and did.”

He also spoke of his mischievousness and recalled how Joey once snuck his grandad’s fine china from the cupboard and redecorated the set with fresh lick of paint.

But what made Joey truly special was his caring and loving nature, the congregation heard.

“He was always looking out for his brothers Jason and Jordan and pulling his cousins into the adventures so no one was left out.”

“Though our grief is deep, so is our gratitude – we were blessed to have known him.

“He may have been small but the love he gave and the memories he left behind were enormous,” his godfather concluded.

Fr Moore placed a workbook from Joey’s recent First Holy Communion on his coffin. The book detailing his spiritual journey was filled the schoolboy’s hopes and aspirations, including a new year’s resolution to improve his handwriting.

“I found myself going, ‘that’s right Joey, you do that’ because it was impossible to read most of his writing,” said Fr Moore.

This was followed by a touching moment where his mother and father draped Joey’s white baptismal shawl, which was worn by him and his two brothers, over his coffin.

The Funeral Mass was followed by interment in Magheragallon Cemetery, Gaoth Dobhair.

Joey is predeceased by his grandparent Nora Forker and by his grandparents Nana Nora Friel and Papa Paddy Friel.

He is deeply missed by his heartbroken parents, Audrey and Joe, loving brothers, Jason and Jordan, grandparent, Willie, as well as his aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and many friends.