A mother-of-three from west Belfast who died in a house fire has been remembered as a “beautiful lady” at her funeral Mass.
Debbie Burns died following a blaze at her home in the New Barnsley Park area on Monday, December 16.
Her funeral took place today, December 23, at Corpus Christi Church in west Belfast.
A white coffin was situated in front of the altar, where photos of Debbie were displayed.
Father Paddy McCafferty began by saying there are “no words today for this terrible tragedy that has befallen this beautiful family, this beautiful lady”.
Debbie Burns’ funeral in west Belfast.
He added that in the “midst of devastation, God offers us his love and hope”.
During the requiem mass, Debbie’s grandchildren Lila and Loxley paid tribute to her.
Father McCafferty said: “Lila is going to say a wee prayer and Loxley is going to stand beside her and hold her hand.”
Reading her prayer, Lila said: “Lord keep my nanny safe and bring her to be happy with my Granda and you forever, Amen.”
Addressing the congregation, Fr McCafferty said: “We are about to celebrate Christmas and we rightly celebrate it with lights, we celebrate it with various festivities and good things, giving gifts.
“Children look forward to it, young Loxley there is looking forward to Santa coming and I’m sure Lila is too and your friends.
“But sometimes all the lights and all the festivities can mask what it is really all about. It’s about God becoming vulnerable, it’s about God coming down into the midst of our pain, our terrible suffering and taking it all upon himself.”
Debbie Burns.
Fr McCafferty spoke of recently taking part in a podcast with Debbie’s son Gavin when they talked about death.
He added: “And little did we know, Gavin, that it would come so close, so quickly.
“You asked me, ‘are you afraid of dying?’ I think we all are. The Lord Jesus in the gospel says ‘I am the way’. Thomas says, ‘Lord we don’t know where you’re going so how can we know the way?’
“The way is through death, Christ came into this world to die and to endure terrible suffering, just as Debbie’s family are at this moment. Her children, her grandchildren, her sisters, her brother, her nephews and nieces and all the family circle and friends.
“There are just no words, when we are left speechless by this tragedy, it just happened so suddenly out of the blue, so quickly. And that’s very often how death comes.”
Debbie Burns’ funeral in west Belfast.
Father McCafferty said that death is “painful and terrible” but “it is not the end” as he recognised the family “will be in shock for some time”.
He added: “The love that you had for her and that she has for you does not end; it cannot end, it will not end, never. That love will go on and on with you and with God.”
Debbie was the dearly beloved wife of the late Liam, loving mother to Debbieleagh, Gavin and Brandon and a devoted granny to Mila and Loxley.
She was also the cherished sister of Marie, Philly, Pauline, Donna, Rhonda and Geordie.