Heartfelt tributes paid to Ballinrobe mother Shannon McDonald at her Funeral Mass

THE late Shannon McDonald has remembered as ‘beautiful inside and out’ at her Funeral Mass.

The 31-year-old mother was laid to rest in Ballinrobe’s New Cemetery today (Wednesday) after she passed away after suffering with cancer for three-and-a-half years.

Shannon was a highly regarded employee of Tesco for many years prior to her illness. A lover of music, she was also a member of a local choir – symbolised by a choir book brought forward during the symbols of her life.

A Hedwig teddy symbolising her love of Harry Potter and family photographs symbolising her love of family were also presented as symbols.

Speaking at her Funeral Mass in St Mary’s Church in Ballinrobe, Shannon’s sister, Mariah, said that her sister had ‘the kindest heart’ and was ‘all about family’.

“The only way to describe Shannon is that she was beautiful inside and out,” said Mariah during the eulogy.

“She had the kindest heart of anyone you could have ever met and was a loving mother to her daughter Alanna, a loving daughter to her parents, a caring sister to John and myself, an amazing aunt to Mia, Aoife and James and a devoted partner to Johnny,”

“Shannon loved being with her friends and had so many good memories with them. She was one of the most genuine people,” Mariah said.

“We are all so lucky to have had her in our lives. Her smile would light up any room, even on dark days. Throughout her battle she kept smiling and laughing, she never let it get her down.”

Shannon’s younger sister then paid tribute to the positive attitude she showed throughout her illness.

A GoFundMe page raised over €85,000 for Shannon to receive treatment outside of Ireland before her health deteriorated.

_{The late Shannon McDonald}

“She never let it get her down, no matter what pain she was in,” said Mariah, “and that was how she showed Alannah and all of us what a warrior she was.

“From start to finish she kept fighting. Never once did she say, ‘Why me?’ She took it on the chin, rolled up her sleeves and was ready for the fight.

“Our lives will never be the same again. Shannon was the glue that held us all together. She kept us strong during her fight,” adding that her sister’s heart was ‘made of gold’.

“She always put others first. Even in the hospital bed she would be asking us and the nurses how our day was and did we get some sleep.”

Mariah thanked all the medical professionals who had supported Shannon and her family during her illness.

Concluding, Mariah described Shannon as her ‘role model’ and ‘best friend’.

“I will be forever thankful for getting to have you in my life. I just wish we had more time. Rest in peace until we meet again.”

In his homily, Fr Denis Carney paid tribute to Shannon’s attitude during her ‘battle’ with illness.

“Shannon knew what it was to suffer. When cancer struck her about three and a half years ago, she knew she had a battle on her hands, and battle she did, right up to her last breath. said Fr Carney.

“She never gave in. She had so much to live for.”

Fr Carney paid tribute to the support she received from her family, friends, medical personnel and ‘so many others who offered support in whatever way they could’.

He described her as ‘a wonderful person’ and ‘an inspiration to many’ who ‘always thought of family and other people’ despite her illness.

“No parent, no child should ever have to stand beside the grave of one so young,” Fr Carney added.

Shannon is survived by her parents Paul and Debera, her daughter Alanna, sister Mariah, brother Josh, her partner Johnny, Johnny’s parents Teresa and Eugene and family, brother-in-law Garry, niece Mia, cousins Jimmy, Georgia, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.

May she rest in peace.