Irish born paramedic Fiona Lavelle was recalled at her funeral Mass today as living a life that was full of adventure and travel, a life of generosity, service and love.
Fr. John Murray, parish priest of Achill told mourners at St. Patrick’s Church, Pollagh, Achill, that the past few weeks since Fiona’s death while hiking in her adopted Australia have been a nightmare especially for her husband, John, and her parents and sisters.
“Together we grieve, we pray, we hurt”, Fr. Murray said. “But this is the heavy price we pay for love”.
Fiona (41) went missing last month while hiking in the Cape Le Grand National Park in Western Australia. Her body was discovered by a search party the following day.
The circumstances of her death were ‘non suspicious’.
She was married to John McLoughlin, a native of Derrycoosh, Castlebar and the couple lived in Perth.
Fiona worked as a paramedic with the St. John Ambulance in Western Australia. In 2012 she became a naturalised Australian citizen.
Following the funeral Mass this morning, her remains are being taken to Shannon Crematorium for cremation at 4 p.m.
