‘Rest in paradise princess’
The funeral of a teenager killed in a car crash heard yesterday how she spread joy and happiness wherever she went.
Kimberly O’Connor was laid to rest yesterday following her funeral mass in St Mary’s on the Hill Church where mourners listened to how intelligent, kind, generous and bright she was. Kimberly was killed when the car she was in collided with a wall on Harbour View Road last Wednesday night shortly before midnight, close to her home.
Fr Howard said during the funeral mass that the community has been consoled by the beautiful words spoken about Kimberly since her passing.
He said: “Her mother Jennifer says her beloved daughter Kimberly was a very kind and generous person who was loved by so many people. Her sister Britney Marie said ‘I love you forever, always our beauty. Rest in paradise princess’.”
Shannon her other sister wrote ‘My beautiful baby sister, there are no words but (to say I’m) absolutely heartbroken I love you forever’.”
Tributes have poured in from her friends on social media since Kimberly’s death like “You were the nicest girl ever, you didn’t have one bad bone” and “Sleep tight beautiful angel, the brightest star in the sky”.
Her school principal in Terence MacSwiney College, Phil O’Flynn, said: “Kimberly was so intelligent, so bright and so able. She was full of fun. She was such a bright light.”
During the mass, Fr Howard said that a cloud came over the community in Knocknaheeny when word spread about the crash that took Kimberly’s young life.
“Nothing prepares us for that,” he said.
Fr Howard said: “There is an incompleteness, an unreadiness and even a certain brutality. She was too young, so fragile and still so unprepared to give up life."
He added: “Since then the community here in Knocknaheeny and Hollyhill have prayed. We have prayed for Kimberly, her family, her friends, and the others hurt in the crash. Even for people of faith, including myself, this is a time when finding perspective and consolation is difficult. What words can help bathe and soothe the wounds of grief, hurt and utter devastation?”
Kimberly had an interest in drama and singing and received an award from UCC in March 2018 for excellence in maths, Irish and foreign languages.
She was one of five students who travelled to Kolkata in January with the Hope Foundation. She spent months fundraising with her friends to help the poor of Kolkata where she helped to improve the classrooms and orphanages making them colourful and engaging places to be for Kolkata’s street children.
Kimberly was also involved in an exchange programme with Cooperation Ireland, with students in the North of Ireland.
Fr Howard said: “This is a life fully lived, talents used for the benefit of others. God must be pleased with her and her reward must be truly great. More importantly though is that Kimberly loved her family and friends and always encouraged others to take centre stage. She was loved by all. Kimberly spread joy and happiness wherever she went."
Local councillor Tony Fitzgerald said that Kimberly was the apple of her mother’s eye and there was great sadness being felt in the community.
Gardaí are still investigation the fatal crash where two other in the car were injured, the driver and a back passenger. The back passenger is still in CUH with what it said to be severe injuries. Gardaí are interested in speaking to the taxi driver of a white Toyota taxi car who was travelling on Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeney in Cork city between 11.30pm-12.00am on Wednesday 19 February.
Anyone who may have information regarding the collision, particularly any road users with camera footage, are asked to contact Gurranabraher Garda Station on 021-4946200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111 or any Garda station.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page to help the family has raised more than €18,000 as of yesterday.