Ruby Owen's funeral: 'Her life has brought joy and hope to so many'
HUNDREDS of mourners gathered to say their last good-byes to a brave little girl who touched the hearts of thousands of people all over the world.
Around 500 people packed into St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Goldenhill for the funeral of five-year-old Ruby Owen, the 'little girl who inspired so many'.
Ruby, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2009, died at Donna Louise Children's Hospice a week ago today.
As friends, family, fund-raisers and well wishers packed into the church ahead of her funeral on Saturday, the Bruno Mars song Just The Way You Are was played.
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Father Julian Green, who led the service, said: "Ruby was brought to Earth for a purpose. It's love.
"I didn't know Ruby well. I only went to Treetops once to see her. She had a joy of living, on that day making cakes, doing simple things, but always rejoicing in the fact she had such a wonderful family and parents.
"It's awful to see a child suffer, it is terrible. Yet from that suffering, look what has happened.
"How many people responded to Ruby's suffering with an immense outpouring of love, with immense generosity and commitment, not just across North Staffordshire, but even further beyond, even across the Atlantic.
"The things little Ruby inspired during her life – her lasting testament will be the extra work that will be done at places like Treetops, which will be a lasting good.
"The life of Ruby was one which, although so short, has more than had a purpose. It is one that has brought tremendous joy and hope. We pray that Ruby's testament will be one that is a true foundation for greater things."
Ruby, from Kidsgrove, twice flew to the U.S. for pioneering treatment. It was paid for by fund-raising efforts in her home town and the wider North Staffordshire area, with around £250,000 collected.
Fashion designer Jeff Banks, who was invited to read a poem during the service, said: "I was doing a bike ride from John-o-Groats to Lands End to raise money for the Donna Louise Trust.
"We stopped at the hospice and I met this amazing, magical, young lady. She stayed in my heart and my mind for the rest of that trip.
"What an inspiration one small person can be. I have not stopped thinking about her since that day."
Ruby's family thanked the many people who helped with her treatment, or have supported fund-raising efforts over the past three years.
The service closed with prayers and the song, At Last I See The Light, from the Disney movie Rapunzel, one of Ruby's favourites. Guests filed out to the sound of Fly To Your Heart by Selina Gomez, from the Tinker Bell movie.
The service was followed by a private committal at Tunstall Cemetery.
Send your tribute to Ruby to tributes@thesentinel. co.uk.
Comments
by johnlocker
Monday, January 14 2013, 4:35PM
“So Sad. The day the angels took you they took a brave little girl, who's memory will live on forever, and bring inspiration to all those that knew you little Ruby.
RIP”
by pensioner46
Monday, January 14 2013, 11:01AM
“So sad for the family to lose such a special child.I hope they can take comfort from the memories they made together and draw on them for comfort in the coming months. This young child inspired so many to do good in the fund-raising efforts over the past three years may they long continue to do this in her memory for the benefit of the hospice.”