Heartbreaking poem and tributes at funeral of beloved young Laois man

A touching poem and tribute describing the gentle nature of a young Laois man who died suddenly this week, has been read out by his father at his funeral.

John (Jack) Delaney, of Kyledellig, Ballacolla, Portlaoise, died on December 5th, after collapsing while out for a jog, to the deep shock of his family, friends and community.

The son of Tim and Eileen Delaney, he had worked in the well known family business of Design Options in Portlaoise for the past few years.

His Requiem Mass took place at noon on Saturday, December 9 at St Canice's Church in Clough, where it was standing room only as a wide community from near and far united to pray for him and his broken hearted family and friends.

His father wrote a poem that he bravely read out.

"My dear John, we're here today to say goodbye to you. It breaks my heart to be apart, there's nothing we can do. Your gentle smile for that short while will remain with us forever. As tears go by we hope one day we'll all be back together".

He described his son as kind and gentle.

"John like his three other siblings was very special to us. He was unique in his kindness and personality. I think that shone brightly with all the people that called, people that were strangers to us, that he met through business, came from far and near. It's gobsmacking. Without any effort, he touched the hearts of those he met. 

"From his early schooldays right up to the years in college, he attracted some beautiful friends, mostly present here today.

"John was so gentle in his way that he couldn't say no, he was always so grateful for little simple things we'd done for him. I used to ask him sometimes to come to the yard or something, he couldn't say no, he would just say 'do I have to?' That was his kindness," Tim Delaney said.

John had joined him in the family business five years ago after a stint working in Canada.

"Things worked out really well, he is now running the show himself, I don't know how I'm going to claw back but I'll have to get strength from him," his dad said.

Tim Delaney graciously thanked all who flocked to the family in their time of tragedy, including the community and emergency crews who fought to resusitate John at the scene and in the hospital. 

Gifts symbolising John's life brought to the altar included a designer jumper for his love of fashion, a weight from his home gym for his love of keeping fit, and his laptop symbolising his hard work in the family business.

His uncle Martin sang beautiful hymns for the funeral service.

It was celebrated by PP Fr John Robinson, with the assistance of Fr Noel Maher, Fr Jackie, Fr Joe, Fr Paddy, Fr Hennessy and family friend Fr Allen.

Fr Robinson said John's parents reared him to have "honesty, decency, integrity and kindness and care for others".

"It is not the length of days that makes life honorable, but the way it is lived, that's the quality of life. We give thanks to John and the 28 precious years we had with him," he said.

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The dearly loved son of Tim and Eileen, John is the much loved brother of Tim and Tom and sister Sarah. John will be sadly missed by his sisters in law Sara and Kate, nieces Evelyn and Sadie, nephew Tim, uncles, aunts, cousins, relatives, neighbours and large circle of friends.

Interment took place afterwards on Saturday, December 9 in Knockaroo Cemetery.