Mourners at the funeral of Chloe Ferris have been told to cherish every day, live their lives to the full and use their gifts and talents in her name so she will always be remembered.
The 24-year-old died in the early hours of Sunday morning at Lux nightclub in the city centre as she celebrated her birthday.
In an address to mourners – read by Fr Darren Brennan – parents Declan and Sharon wished their first born child a happy 25th birthday.
Fr Brennan told those gathered for funeral mass at St Paul’s Church on the Falls Road how none of those present would wish to be there, and shouldn’t be there.
“It’s like even the heavens are in tears as we remember Chloe, a beautiful, special, blossoming young woman,” he said.
“We will not pretend we are not heartbroken because we are.
“But we’re not going to pretend with that Chloe’s life wasn’t an amazing one, She achieved so very very much in a life filled to the brim in love, a love which flowed both ways.
“Memories you all will cherish forever and that she has left behind.
“Anyone who have been to the house on the Whitewell Road will know just know welcoming a place it is, how warm and how beautiful a place it is. Not just a house, truly a home. That’s thanks to Sharon and Declan and to their family and the love that is palpable in that place,” he said as he continued by reading a tribute from Chloe’s parents.
“Where do we start with our Miss Chloe girl?” they said. “She was our first born, and was spoilt by her soft touched dad who she continued to prey on all of her life!”
The funeral of Chloe took place at St Pauls Church in Belfast for Requiem Mass followed by burial in Milltown Cemetery.
Picture: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press
They spoke of the love Chloe was shown by all her aunt’s uncles and cousins and how that love was returned and of the group of friends she had made at school who continued to enjoy life to the fullest.
“The sister squad, a group of fine, well mannered young women we were all proud of,” they said. “They had a great influence on Chloe’s attitude to life.
“She loved holidaying, she never blooming stopped holidaying!” they said, “in Bundoran, in America, partying in Ibiza with her sister squad.”
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They spoke too of how she had been to Africa, her involvement with cross community youth group R City.
“But,” they said, “all those holidays had to be paid for. And dad’s pockets were only so deep. Chloe’s little business had to flourish. And it did. It flourished and flourished. She was so proud of it, and we were of her. We actually think she named it wrong. It should have been Agony Aunt Chloe’s Therapy for she listened to all her client’s stories and problems all day long. Not only did she never say a bad word about them, she just loved them all. Her clients will remember her eating her favourite salted chilli chicken and chips. The love they had for each other was immeasurable.
The funeral of Chloe Ferris. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press
“Chloe’s other love was her nephews, the ginger mingers she called them. She loved to play with them, until it came to dirty nappy time when the call went out for granny Sharon.
“We could talk about all the love she gave out to everyone, but it worked both ways, and when we see the amount of people paying respect to her short life we can only say thank you so much.”
Chloe’s parents ended their tribute: “How could we forget, happy 25th birthday Chloe girl. We love you.”
Fr Brennan added: “Words don’t come close to summing up Chloe’s life, short as it might have been. It was absolutely filled to the brim with activity, with using her gifts and talents, sharing them generously with everyone she met. But above all it has been filled with love.
The funeral of Chloe took place at St Pauls Church in Belfast for Requiem Mass followed by burial in Milltown Cemetery.
Picture: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press
“Chloe, much as she would have emptied her pockets and her daddy’s pockets, was a very, very wealthy young woman because when all is said and all is done all that remains is the love that has been shared. She is gone and what we will all be judged on is how well we have loved. Love filled her life, and will remain in our hearts for many many years to come and we’re grateful for that.
“To the sister squad, and all who knew Chloe, today is a sad day, a day of tears, a day of mourning, but let’s make sure her life means something. In honour of Chloe each one of us today should make a firm commitment to live the life we have to the full, fill it with love, use our girfts a talents, take risks and go the extra mile in reaching out to those in need, and do it in her name. That way her legacy will shine like a bright torch in a dark world for many, many years to come.”
The funeral of Chloe Ferris. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press
Police are still investigating the circumstances of Chloe’s death after the incident at Lux nightclubs last weekend which left another of her friends in hospital.
Two men in their 20s arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences following the incident have since been released on bail.
Requiem Mass for Chloe Ferris was followed by burial in Milltown Cemetery.
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News Catch Up – Thursday 5 December