The late Catherine Heron, Belleek
THE AUNT of young Belleek woman Catherine Heron, who died unexpectedly on Saturday, has paid tribute to a niece who ‘grabbed each day and made the most of it’.
Catherine, 25, died on Saturday (January 3) following complications with her illness – type 1 diabetes – and her funeral mass takes place on Wednesday January 7, in St Patrick’s Church, Belleek.
She lived in Blackrock Park, Belleek.
Aunt, Janice Ferguson, Belleek said that Catherine ‘lived life to the full despite her diabetes’.
“There’s shock and devastation,” Janice explained, “It came so unexpectedly. She died on the third. I’m shocked and devastated, I just can’t believe it. She had a full life to live and she just grabbed each day and made the most of it.
“Catherine loved her fashion. From one week to the next you wouldn’t know what colour of hair she’d have. Whether it’d be pink, purple, blonde. She was the life and soul of the party and everybody knew her in Belleek.”
Diagnosed age two with type 1 diabetes, Catherine had to inject herself four times a day with insulin. It is thought that her death happened as a result of complications to do with her illness.
Janice explained: “With the diabetes she had to manage her diet, she had to make sure she’d enough sleep. Make sure she’d the correct dosage of insulin, and manage hospital appointments. But she took it on, she never complained – and bravery is one thing I would describe her as. Such a brave girl.”
A past pupil of St Davog’s and Brollagh in Belleek, Catherine also attended primary school and Colaiste Colmcille in Ballyshannon.
She had previously worked in Belleek playschool.
A particular memory stands out for aunt, Janice: “We got married in 1991, and my dad was walking me up the aisle. Catherine was very upset. She had a wee flower dress on her and she wouldn’t let go of my father’s hand. And he ended up walking me down the aisle on one side, and Catherine on the other.
“That’s just one lasting memory that I have. That just sums up her personality. She was very family orientated, loved children.
“She had completed a childcare course and was very fond of children – that would have been her aim to work with children.”
Catherine’s funeral mass took place on January 7, at 10am in St Patrick’s Church, Belleek.
She is survived by her mother, Antoinette McKinney nee Gallagher, Ballyshannon, her father, Declan Heron, Belleek.
She also leaves her stepfather Michael McKinney, stepmother Sharon McGarrigle, sisters Carmel, Hannah, Shannon and Sophie and her brothers Declan and William.
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