Theresa Hepburn (née Peoples) has been celebrated as a woman who filled everyone she knew with joy, a woman that was good, full of fun and full of love.
The funeral mass for Ms Hepburn today at St. Eunan’s Cathedral heard that she lived a tremendously full life loving those around her.
Her brokenhearted family were reminded of her most beautiful qualities today, nine days after she suffered fatal injuries in a tragic accident in Raphoe.
Theresa, of Castle Grove, Raphoe and formerly Mountain Top Letterkenny, lost her life as a result of injuries sustained in an accident on Wednesday 2nd March. She was out walking on Guesthouse End Road when she was struck by a vehicle following a collision. She passed away in hospital on Monday.
“It is surely hard to take in that she left the house for a carefree walk, only to meet with tragedy,” said Monsignor Kevin Gillespie.
Amidst the tragedy, Fr Gillespie said Theresa was loved deeply, as a mother, a daughter, a sister, a beloved and a dear friend.
“One thing that comes across about Theresa is not only her happy and bubbly personality but her complete dedication to others in life, especially those she loved the most.”
Fr Gillespie spoke of Theresa’s motherly ways, and her constant care for her siblings, her mother, her children, Lisa, Lauren and Aaron and her grandchildren, Leigh and Blake. With her family, Fr Gillespie said, she was always smiling and always full of pride and encouragement.
“A true gem of a person, someone that did anything that was good and helpful without fault, always coming to somebody else’s aid and always putting them first,” he said.
Fr Gillespie spoke of how she found happiness in recent years in the company of her partner, Liam.
“Theresa had led a tremendously full life, for the simple reason that she loved those who were around her,” he said.
“No matter what we do, what we achieve, the challenges that we face, if we love those around us, it brings us happiness, it brings us the fullness of life and we fulfil what we are on this earth to do.”
Theresa had only recently fulfilled a personal goal too – passing her driving test.
“She was looking forward to the freedom it offered. It was a great achievement and a further display of her own get-up and go, and her resilience and endurance,” Fr Gillespie said.
Fr Gillespie said Theresa had ‘kindness in abundance’.
“She filled everyone she knew with joy, they experienced her love and energy, they knew her to be good, full of fun and full of love.”
The Funeral mass was followed by burial in New Leck Cemetery.
Gardaí are continuing investigations into the cause of the two-vehicle crash in Raphoe last week. Officers are appealing to any witnesses to come forward and/or to any motorists with dashcam footage. Anyone with any information in relation to this incident should contact Letterkenny Garda Station on 074 916 7100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
