Flight of an angel

‘HEARTBROKEN’ Michelle Needham with Jessica (right) and Grace.

Edwin McGreal

Shortly after 1pm today, white doves flew into the sky over Islandeady Cemetery.
They symbolised, said Parish Priest Fr Pat Donnellan, the flight of an angel, Jessica Needham, to heaven to join her two sisters and her brother, who died shortly after she and they were born eight years ago.
Little Jessica was the only one of the quadruplets to survive, but a terrible tragedy last Tuesday took her life – an accident involving a tractor on the family farm in Lismolin, Islandeady.
Fr Donnellan said the tragic accident has ‘brought suffering and grief to a heartbroken family and community’.
“With death at any age, grief is the price we pay for love,” he said, in his homily. “But the price is huge when it is the intense love of a parent for a child – especially a miracle child as beautiful and as loving as little Jessica. The grief will be raw but the support will be huge, as it has been already, from family and friends in this closely knit community of Islandeady.”

‘Radiated love’
Jessica Needham was due to start second class in Cloggernagh NS next month and was preparing to make her First Holy Communion. With many of her school friends in the church, Fr Donnellan spoke warmly of the girl they knew.
“She was greatly loved in school, at home, everywhere – because she radiated innocence and love for everybody. I know from her Granny that she loved to hug people. And every day she went to her Granny next door to say ‘I love you Granny’ – with a big hug.
“She probably taught more about love in her short eight years than most people do in a lifetime. If only the world could share such love, then it would be a beautiful world,” he said.

‘Miracle baby’
Fr Donnellan told the congregation that he officiated at the wedding of Jessica’s parents, Pat and Michelle, in 2003 and christened Jessica who was ‘a miracle baby’, and her younger sister, Grace, aged six.
“Jessica Amy Needham – one of four – was born on October 29, 2007. Sadly, her little angel sisters and brother died within days, but Jessica fought for life for five or six months in hospital. An amazing collage of photos on the Altar capture her first 12 months of life.
“A miracle child, we celebrated her Baptism on June 15, 2008, in St Patrick’s Church Islandeady – at the font beside her little white coffin today,” he said.
Fr Donnellan read two moving poems during his homily. The first was called ‘I’ll Lend You a Child of Mine’ while he finished with ‘God’s Little Angel’, saying ‘it could be Jessica talking to you’.

I did not die young
I lived my span of life within my family, and within your love
There are many who have lived long lives, and not been loved as I
If you would honour me, then speak my name
And number me among your own
If you would honour me, then strive to live in love
For in that love I live
Never, ever doubt that we will meet again
Until that day, I will grow with God and wait for you