Young children held teddy bears at the requiem mass in Carrigaline, Co Cork today of Emili Roman, who drowned off the Cork coast just two days before she would have celebrated her 8th birthday alongside her twin brother.
The family of Emili Roman, of Crosshaven in Co Cork, had asked friends of their daughter to bring soft toys to her requiem mass at the Church of Our Lady and St John so that they could be placed on her grave.
Emili's body was recovered from the water near the shore at about 7.30pm on Tuesday.
She was found following a three-hour search off Fountainstown Beach, after she got into difficulty in the water.
Her parents Martha and Slawomir, her older sibling Inga, and her twin Jeremy walked alongside her white coffin as it was wheeled to the top of the church this morning.
Emili loved the outdoor life, and the picture on her coffin was of her standing by the sea, with a big smile on her face and her long, blonde hair blowing in the breeze.
Carrigaline parish priest Fr Aidan Cremen told mourners that the people of Crosshaven, Fountainstown, Carrigaline and surrounding areas were heartbroken by the loss of the vibrant and loving youngster.
He said that Emili loved living in the "beautiful piece of paradise" by the sea that is Crosshaven.
"Emili enjoyed the benefits of living in Crosshaven her loving parents giving her a fabulous lifestyle. We can’t find words to express how we feel," he said.
He added: "There must be some comfort that Emili was surrounded with love all her life. (She was) the centre of attention. All the buzz of family life and interactions with her brother and sister and devoted parents."
"I can assure Slawomir and Martha Inga and Jeremy that Emili will be looking out for you and loving you and feeling your love for her.
"Even though you are sad and heartbroken today, everybody here has happy memories of Emili. A happy, joyful and contented child, sensitive and caring I am told, and appreciative of everything.
"The memories Emili has taken with her are happy, joyful beautiful memories. That is how people remember her."
Fr Cremen said that Emili’s family truly appreciated the assistance of the emergency services and the support of the community in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Meanwhile, a guard of honour was provided at the start of the mass by teenage pupils from Coláiste Muire Réalt Na Mara in Crosshaven. Emili's coffin was escorted into the church by her family and her classmates at Templebreedy National School in Crosshaven.
Amongst the mourners were members of An Garda Síochána, the Ambulance and Fire services, the RNLI and the Coastguard. Local TDs including Minister for Finance Michael McGrath and Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney were also in attendance.
Catholic Bishop of Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin, and Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Paul Colton both asked that condolences and prayers be offered on their behalf at the mass.
Emili was laid to rest at St John's Cemetery in nearby Ballinrea, Co Cork.
