A stalwart of the London-Irish community, who died aged 83 after being diagnosed with Covid-19, has been laid to rest in her native Co Laois.
Alice Kennedy told her friends and family that she wanted the public to know how she died and what she went through with coronavirus.
She was buried in her native Clonaslee in Laois this afternoon at 3pm surrounded by her family.
Travel restrictions meant many of her closest friends were unable to attend.
They recorded the song Going Home as a tribute, which was played at her graveside.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Alice was admitted to a London hospital with flu-like symptoms in late March and was later diagnosed with Covid-19.
The 83-year-old died in hospital on 1 April. Her death caused shock and sadness among the Irish community in London, where Alice had lived since 1962.
''Alice made it very clear that getting older can be a great time,'' said Nora Mulready of the Irish Elderly Advice Network in London.
''You cannot think about Alice Kennedy without smiling and that's a gift she has given all of us.''
Ms Mulready added: ''There's been a huge outpouring of love for Alice. She told us she never had as much as a chest infection before this, so it was a big shock when her condition deteriorated,'' Ms Mulready explained to RTÉ News.
''Alice wanted her story to be shared as a warning, in particular, for elderly people who are the most vulnerable,'' she added.
Alice's brother Seamus Culleton described his sister as a ''marvellous person'' adding that he was ''very proud'' of her.
Mr Culleton said that Alice was ''unbelievable craic'' and that she ''loved dancing and music and devilment'.'
Mr Culleton said the family do not know how his sister contracted Covid-19.
''She was a very active person and she brought one of her friends to hospital where she stayed for five hours in the weeks before she died,'' he said.
Ms Kennedy's family said they believed that the British authorities should have acted sooner regarding advice for the elderly and imposing restrictions.
Alice was a much loved member of the Irish community in London for decades.
She chaired the city's Irish Elderly Advice Network until her death. The organisation is a lifeline for many Irish people who emigrated there dating back to the 1950s.
The organisation stages plays and organises outings for Irish pensioners. It is considered a social outlet where many meet up, share stories and support to each other.
Ms Kennedy was also a member of the London-Irish Pensioners' Choir and a passionate campaigner for Irish emigrants in the UK.
President Michael D Higgins met Ms Kennedy during a trip to London in 2012.
He said ''among the Irish and particularly among the most vulnerable, many of whom emigrated in the 1950s and 60s, she will always be remembered as their greatest advocate".
Alice Kennedy was predeceased by her husband Frank and is survived by her three brothers Seamus (79), Christy (74) and Michael (80), who are all based in Ireland.
Her friends and family plan to celebrate her life in a special mass in London later this year.
