Imelda Bannon was a 42-year-old teacher who died suddenly on Monday
A mother-of-four and primary school teacher in Co Derry who sadly died suddenly lived a life “filled with love, joy, beauty and blessings”, mourners heard at her funeral on Friday.
Imelda Bannon, a 42-year-old teacher at St Eoghan’s Primary School in Moneyneena, sadly passed away on Monday. She was described as a “very dear friend, colleague and beloved teacher” in a touching tribute from the school’s principal and the chair of the Board of Governors earlier this week.
Mourners at her funeral in St. John the Baptist Church in Swatragh on Friday were told that her “death does not define her life”.
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Addressing mourners at the Granaghan parish chapel on Friday morning, Fr Charlie Keaney said: “Imelda’s death does not define her life, her 42 years of beautiful life. Imelda Bannon’s life was filled with love and joy and beauty and blessings. She was a caring and devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. Life was a celebration – so many glorious memories. In her home, if you look at all those photographs of happy times, together times – the joy, the light – that was Imelda Bannon’s life.”
He continued: “The redeeming love of God can do what we can’t. God’s love can enter bruised, lonely frightened places and breathe out peace and freedom – a new life. There’s no fear, no depression, no sickness, no private hell, so deep or so enclosed that God’s love cannot descend into it.
“There are no locked doors through which Christ cannot go and so We gather this morning to seek God’s healing embrace. He sees every tear you’ve cried, both visible and silent.”
He also spoke of her work as a primary school teacher, saying: “As a primary school teacher she was a natural, an inspiration. Her classroom was a place of creativity and safety, cheerfulness. It was a home from home for all our pupils, year four – preparing them for first penance, for Holy Communion. I think that better describes the Imelda that we know and love, that you know so much about and love, tenderly in your hearts.”
Addressing her husband, Robert, Fr Keaney said: I know that your heart is broken beyond words. You’ve lost the love of your life. In one of the psalms, it says, the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
Addressing her four children, he said: “Your mammy Loved you so very, very much. Just because she’s gone, that doesn’t mean the love has ended. She still loves you the same way. She lives on in your hearts, in your memories, in your laughter, and the way she and daddy brought you up.
“And you’ll hear stories about mammy, nice stories – keep them close to you, always. At times when you when you’re sad and when you’re hurt, you can talk about it. It’s OK to cry.We all cry. It’s also OK to laugh. She would want you to live and grow and keep loving and be happy. That’s what she wants so much for you.
The parish priest added: “She is now rightly and richly rewarded for her beautiful joy, and her many kindnesses, and the generosity of her love. Love endures, God’s mercy endures. Even in the darkest night, the promise of resurrection still stands.”
Following Requiem Mass, she was interred in the adjoining cemetery.
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