The funeral has taken place of the journalist and broadcaster Deirdre Purcell in Dublin.
The best-selling author passed away suddenly on Monday at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda in Co Louth at the age of 77.
Her requiem mass was held at Our Lady of Victories Church on the Ballymun Road in Glasnevin this morning.
She is survived by her husband, Kevin Healy and her two sons Adrian and Simon Weckler and her stepchildren Justin and Zoe.
The eulogy was delivered by her husband and her son Adrian.
Kevin Healy said they are "all devastated by Deirdre's death".
He said "the suddenness of it all was particularly cruel for her broken-hearted family and friends".
Mr Healy said he had some consolation in that he knew "she did not suffer and that I was with her when her heart stopped beating".
He also told the funeral that his "unopened Valentine card to her, states on the front, life is such an adventure with you by my side" and he said "Deirdre’s friends will know just how true that statement is".
An emotional Mr Healy described his late wife as "our rock".
"She was the glue that kept our little family together and we are now cast adrift and we are bereft," he said.
He thanked people for their support and condolences and he also paid tribute to the ambulance personnel, doctors and nurses at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital for "their courtesy, care, professionalism and support".
Her son Adrian said his mother's death was a shock and he said her family and her friends are "still trying to process it".
"We just can't believe it," he said.
He told mourners that his mother "meant a lot of things, to a lot of people".
Mr Weckler said people have used words in recent days like "generous, loyal, creative and fun" to describe her.
He said "she believed everyone was unique and talented and beautiful" and he said the compassion she showed "was the bedrock for a great many of her friendships".
Mr Weckler also described his mother as "endlessly loyal, endlessly supportive, endlessly resourceful, there really was no greater comfort," he said.
There was humor too.
Speaking at the end of the mass, he said his mother "loved to laugh" and he said she "had a special place in her heart for the absurd too".
Amid laughter from mourners, he told how his mother once "outfitted the house with an odd looking carpet because, as she told us, she just couldn't resist the carpet shop's name; Lino Ritchie".
During her career, Deirdre Purcell was the first female anchor of the Nine O'Clock news on RTÉ Television and she presented 'It Says in the Papers' for Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1.
Mr Weckler said his mother "absolutely loved going into RTÉ".
He said she first worked for the national broadcaster in the GPO when she was aged in her 20s as part of "a cohort of freshmen with Pat Kenny and Marian Finucane and Catherine Hogan and Mike Murphy and newsreader Michael Murphy as well, and Treasa Davidson and others".
"Then 30 years later, she came back to Morning Ireland. A totally new gang. Gavin Jennings, Rachel English, Valerie Cox and all of those great journalists," he said.
He also described how his mother "loved spending time with her family".
Adrian Weckler ended his eulogy by saying to those in the church and watching the mass online that his mother would want him to say today: "Thank you for giving her life and for allowing her to give it back to you."
The family had encouraged mourners attending the mass to wear colourful attire.
Her brother Declan played the guitar and sang during the funeral, while her grandchildren, grandnephew and grandniece read prayers of the faithful.
Mourners applauded as Deirdre Purcell’s coffin was carried from Our Lady of Victories Church as the song 'Smile' was performed.
Following her funeral mass, Deirdre Purcell was taken to Glasnevin Cemetery for a private cremation.
