The death has occurred of:
Noel Kearney
Family Acknowledgement for the late Noel Kearney
We, the family of the late Noel Kearney wish to express our appreciation to all those who supported us and sympathised with us following Noel’s passing.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who sent messages and cards, and to all those who came to share their support and good wishes at the wake and the funeral service.
Thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of Ward 9, SWAH and the Palliative Ward, Omagh for their unfailing care. To Noel’s friends who visited and prayed with him. A special thank you to Richard Duncan and his family for their support and friendship to Noel during his time in hospital and, in the latter stages, bringing his constant pal Lola to visit.
We wish to thank everyone at the Fermanagh Christian Fellowship who guided us in carrying out Noel’s wishes for his funeral service, along with McKeegan’s Undertakers for their professionalism, kindness and compassion in supporting us throughout the wake and funeral service.
A special mention is due to Cathal O’Connor, Principal of St Michael’s College, as well as the entire staff and student community for their support. From closing the school on the day of the funeral to the Guard of Honour, we were overwhelmed by such gestures. Noel was a dedicated member of St Michael’s staff and he always spoke of the boys and young men who attended the school with such pride so we know these acts would have meant a lot to him.
We thank Fermanagh Christian Fellowship for all their efforts in preparing for the funeral service, including setting up the live stream and collating photographs of Noel’s travels and missionary work. We are much obliged to those who provided such beautiful refreshments at the wake and after the funeral service and the kind welcome to all who attended.
We thank Ian Jones, Sam Balmer and Stephen Scott for leading the congregation in prayer; Dom Corrigan for sharing his memories and the impact Noel made on St Michael’s; and, Gareth Carruthers for his heartfelt eulogy. Noel wanted music to be an important part of the service and we thank all the musicians who made this possible and Lisa, in particular, for her beautiful solo.
We also extend our thanks to Noel’s friends who travelled to be with us for his final journey and to those who watched online. Travel was one of Noel’s great joys and he would have been touched to know people tuned in from around the world. A special mention to the ladies who travelled from Greece and to Libby Armstrong and Daphne Mahon who facilitated their journey and accommodation.
To Noel’s neighbours, especially Tara and Barry, for their support and friendship and to all those who visited the house. We thank the staff of Rooney’s Supermarket for the refreshments and their respectful Guard of Honour. Thanks also to the PSNI for their assistance with traffic management on the day of the funeral.
Thank you to the grave diggers in Breandrum who prepared Noel’s final resting place.
Finally, a special thank you to those of who made donations to Cancer Focus and Bright Eyes, the charities Noel supported.
As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, we trust this acknowledgement will be accepted as a token of our sincere and heartfelt thanks and appreciation to everyone who helped in any way.
Noel is lovingly remembered by his brothers Sean, Michael and Christopher, his sisters Anne, Geraldine and Teresa and all who knew him.
Absent from the body, present with the Lord.