“What do you say to a father and a mother on a day like this, there is nothing”
A teenage boy was described as “talented, funny and smart” during his funeral in Co Derry on Wednesday, following his sudden death on Saturday.
Peter Bell, a 14-year-old from Moneymore in Co Derry, was laid to rest following Requiem Mass at a packed St John and St Trea Church.
He was described earlier this week as “a sensitive, caring and kind young man” whose friends and classmates are “heartbroken by this sudden loss”, in a moving tribute from his school.
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A teddy bear and Liverpool FC memorabilia were among the items placed on the altar in the packed church in Moneymore on Wednesday morning.
Addressing mourners directly, Fr Martin McArdle encouraged the local community to offer support to the family in their grief.
“What do you say to a father and a mother on a day like this,” the parish priest asked. “There is nothing. What do you say to a brother and sisters on a day like this? There is nothing. There are no words for the pain that’s there. And that’s where you people, all of you and the extended ones who are not here, come into play.
“Over the next period of time it’s your presence, not so much what you say but the fact that you stick your head around the corner and spend five minutes, ten minutes or whatever is available to you, to chat and talk about anything – including Liverpool Football Club. That’s the way that you can help. None of us, I don’t care who we are, has an answer to the puzzle that we’ve been left with.”
Fr McArdle added: “So on behalf of the entire community, I say to Peter’s father, mother, brothers, sisters, sincere sympathy and hopefully all our prayers will help you to at least come to an understanding of what has happened. Above all, always be reminded that he is with God, who is love.”
Peter’s sister fought through tears during the service to recite a moving poem dedicated to her brother’s memory.
In it, she described her brother as “our own little Peter Rabbit” who “would attract everyone with your beautiful smile”.
She said Peter was “talented, funny and smart” and “a work of art”.
Holding back tears, she added: “I just wish I could make it all okay, but all we can do now for you is pray. I’ll pray for you every night before I go to sleep and every time I think of you, our Pete. I love you so much, you just don’t know.”
Earlier this week the St Pius X College Year 11 pupil’s principal, Mr Peter Friel, had paid tribute to the pupil in a moving statement.
He described Peter Bell as a schoolboy who had “a deep love for music, art and the Irish language, and had recently achieved success in GCSE Irish”.
Following the poetry reading at the Moneymore chapel on Wednesday morning, there was applause from the congregation before a recording of Peter’s singing voice was played.
In the recording, he sang an Irish language version of the Avicii song ‘Wake Me Up’, drawing further applause from the mourners packed into the Church.
Following the service, his remains were taken for interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
He is described in a family notice as “beloved son of Declan and Ursula and loving brother of Leona, Feargal, Priscilla, Martin, Joanne, Patrick and the late Teagan-Rose”.
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