Dylan Cody Coleman died at the Irish Children's Health Hospital on Temple Street in Dublin on Wednesday morning, the day after he became a big brother at birth by his mother Laura.
Baby Shane and Dylan had a chance to meet him at the hospital last week, just before he passed away.
On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of mourners gathered at Mary Immaculate Church in Tullyglass, Shannon, wearing tracksuit tops and matching socks at the family's request, to pay tribute to a “cherished member of our community.”
Mourners at the funeral mass for Dylan Cody Coleman (Photo by Brendan Gleeson)
The grieving family, including baby Shane who was in a pram, entered as the Liverpool national anthem played. you'll never walk alone They sat facing Dylan's white coffin, draped in a Liverpool flag and decorated with framed photographs detailing his short life.
“Dylan's accident and subsequent death has certainly brought closure to the parish. It is as if a dark cloud has hung over Shannon,” said Father Tom Whelan, co-parish priest.
Fr Whelan said he felt a strong desire to help the family. “We all wish we could do something to help, but unfortunately we can't change the reality,” he added. He stressed that there was “great shock and sadness” over the death of Dylan Cody Coleman.
Dylan was described as a very normal, very sweet child, “very caring, very lovable and affectionate.”
Mourners were told about a particularly sad incident at St Thor's National School in Shannon, where Dylan was a fourth-form student and “highly respected”, and where “tears filled the eyes of teachers”.
Dylan Cody Coleman (10), who died Wednesday, was buried in Ilammana Cemetery after his funeral today.
This week, Father Whelan retold the story of one of his teachers who recalled having a classroom discussion about what organ donation is and what it means.
“When Dylan came home that day, he was talking about it. It was really his number one priority that day. He made sure to mention that he wanted to be an organ donor.
“The sad thing is, none of us expected it to happen so soon,” Father Whelan added.
During a prayer service, mourners were told that Dylan would “live on through the selfless act of giving life” by donating his organs to five people after his death.
His family thanked the doctors and nurses at Temple Street Children's Hospital, University Hospital Limerick and the Rotunda Hospital for their dedicated work.
Prayers were also offered for all emergency services across Ireland, particularly the fire brigade, ambulance service, Cork Air Ambulance and An Garda Siochana.
Dylan's relatives, Claire and his sister Zoe, read a poem they had written for Dylan while he was in hospital, explaining why they loved him, and brought it with them along with a drawing they had done.
“We love Dylan because he's the best, he helps me when I'm hurt, he looks out for us, he takes good care of my grandma and my mom, and he's so funny.”
“How he helped us with the garden. How kind he was. How he read to me. How he annoyed my father with his eccentricities. We loved him,” mourners heard.
Symbols representing Dylan's “short decade of life” were brought to the altar, the first of which were a series of jerseys from Liverpool, Shannon Town United, an Ireland rugby top and a kickboxing shirt.
Dylan was a member of the Shannon United Under 11 team and participated in Shannon Kickboxing Club. He was also a keen rugby fan and loved watching the national team play.
An Xbox, symbolizing Dylan's love of video games, was brought to the altar, along with some of his favorite toys, including Lego pieces that were “meaningful to him.”
Finally, a pair of binoculars was placed on the altar, representing his love of watching the planes fly over his hometown of Shannon as they traveled to and from Shannon International Airport.
“But it's our family who know us best,” Father Whelan said, “and it's you, Garry and Laura who will forever have the most beautiful memories of Dylan.”
“And that is why your precious parents will always carry this loss and sadly you will carry the deepest grief, but we are all here for you.
“We all let you know in our own little way that we're thinking of you. You're in our hearts and in our thoughts.”
