THE overflowing congregation at the double funeral of Jody and Angie Brogan in Drumoghill today (Monday) listened as Fr Brian Quinn encouraged them not to remember the girls’ tragic deaths “in the hell of a house fire”. But to recall them as daughters, sisters, mothers or friends – people who made a difference.
Fr Quinn was the chief celebrant at the Requiem Mass in St Columba’s Church where the Brogan family and friends gathered to say their last farewell to Jody (28) and Angie (27) who died in a house fire at Ceannan View in Letterkenny on Friday morning.
Speaking on the feast of the Epiphany, Fr Quinn said that by choice none of the congregation liked to be there but “by the deaths of Jody and Angie we are bound together in support to reach out to Frank and Mary and their brothers and sisters, to the extended family members and friends.
“We offer you our deepest heartfelt sympathy. There are no words or answers to the many questions you have and we all have in our thoughts – Why? How cruel life can be – the ones we love gone from our sight – the pain and loss is also very real today. The Christian promise of hope we hear today that death is not the end but the beginning of new life with God.”
Family members read the lessons and friends read prayers of the faithful praying for the loss of loved ones, especially Jody and Angie, for the family and friends and for their children.
Fr Quinn concluding his homily said: “One great challenge for all of us in this tragedy, is the loss, anger and despair felt by so many.
“Maybe, just maybe, you who love Jody and Angie could use that to motivate yourselves to be more than you would have been without them. I pray no one here will have their life shortened.
“Where Jody and Angie have gone, their loved ones will be sometime united with them. Thank God for the gift of the girls’ short lives. Pray their gentle souls will rest in peace.”
Jody and Angie were laid to rest in the adjoining graveyard as family and friends cast roses into their resting place.
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