ONE OF the biggest funerals ever held in the Rower took place last week when the remains of the late Sabrina Whelan (24), Ballavarra, Graiguenamanagh, were laid to rest.
She died following a road traffic accident at Newcastle, Newbawn, on Friday, September 13.
From one of the most respected families in the area the high regard in which Sabrina was held was underlined by the size of the congregation that gathered on Tuesday, September 17, for her Requiem Mass in the Church of the Assumption, and burial afterwards in the Rower Cemetery.
From a close-knit community Sabrina went to school in Graiguenamanagh and the Rower National Schools and received her secondary education in St. Mary’s Secondary School in New Ross.
Blessed with the type of down-to-earth, bubbly personality that immediately endeared her to whomever she came into contact with, Sabrina loved being around people of all ages. However, she had a very special affinity for youngsters and older members of the community.
Though she excelled while studying a four-year business management course in Waterford Institute of Technology – where she was consistently among the top students of her class – it was in the area of caring for the elderly that Sabrina found her true vocation in life.
Just days before she passed away she returned to a role at Borris Lodge Nursing Home – having previously left there to work in Donegal for six months.
She also worked in the Mill House Care Centre in New Ross.
The impression she made on people and the positive effect she had on the lives of those around her was, perhaps, best summed up by the fact that three car loads of mourners travelled down from Donegal to the Rower for the funeral – despite the fact they had only known Sabrina for a relatively short period of time.
She planned to develop her care-giving role in the years ahead and had talked of studying nursing in 2014.
Such was her amiable nature that she had the ability to make people feel completely at ease in her company and within hours of meeting her people would feel like she had been their friend for years. It was an extraordinary positive character trait that very few people possess.
While some people carry out care-giving roles in the community because it is their job to do so for Sabrina the role was a pivotal part of her life and even when she was off-duty from work she would call in to see people – especially if there was a birthday or some other celebration taking place.
As one family member commented: “She certainly had that loving touch that people adored.”
Renowned for being a tomboy at heart family members fondly referred to her as being her parents’ ‘first born son’!
Her tomboyish nature and love of fun was apparent even when she was a toddler and it remained with her throughout her life.
Family celebrations are always times of great joy for people all over the country but for the Whelans such occasions were made all the more special because Sabrina ensured that was the case.
While keeping secrets was not something that came easy to her she did manage to spring a surprise on her parents in January when she organised a 25th anniversary celebration for them which caught them completely unawares.
Possessing a fantastic ‘can-do’ attitude no task was ever to big or daunting for Sabrina and her willingness to always put others before herself meant her hard-earned money was usually spent on other people including her nieces and nephews upon whom she doted.
“She always thought of others before herself,” said one family member who spoke to The Echo.
“She had natural ability to care for people.”
Sabrina’s talent and love for looking after elderly people was something that most people, more often-than-not, would associate with someone far older than her but she was passionate about her work and her sincerity meant those she cared for loved having her around.
A lover of fashion and trends she was particularly fond of her dyed ‘red’ hair and was meticulous in how she cared for it.
Sabrina also had a great love of cars and a model of her own vehicle – which had been especially sprayed to match its colour – was placed inside the coffin alongside other items representing her life including her uniform from Borris Lodge, a family photo, a ‘Me to You’ teddy bear and a bottle of hair dye.
Friends, also fellow car enthusiasts, formed a Guard of Honour as her remains were removed from the family home to the Rower and Sabrina’s cousins formed a Guard of Honour as her coffin was removed from the church to the cemetery.
The Whelans are much respected within the communities of the Rower and Graignamanagh and that fact was highlighted by the overwhelming swell of support they received in the wake of Sabrina’s untimely passing.
Land adjacent to the family home was turned into a make-shift car park and a marquee was erected at the house to cater for the large amount of people who called in to offer their condolences.
“It was truly incredible what people did for us and for that we will always be grateful,” Sabrina’s heartbroken dad, Pat, told The Echo.
One poignant moment during the funeral ceremony will remain forever etched in the memory of Sabrina’s family.
As the mourners stood by her graveside in the Rower the Garth Brook’s song, ‘The Dance’, was played through the P.A.
Slowly, and with great reverence, the congregation began to sing along with the song and it provided great comfort for the family as Pat pointed out: “It was a very special moment and it gave us a bit of a lift.”
For her heartbroken family and friends life will never be the same again but they can take comfort in the fact that Sabrina was much loved and respected and that she brought great joy and enhanced the lives of many people during her life.
She is survived by her heartbroken parents, Pat and Bridget, brother, Dean, sisters, Lisa and Megan, niece, Keleigh, grandparents, aunts, uncles, relatives and very large circle of friends.
The Echo extends it sympathies to the bereaved.
