'I can't believe she's gone' – Tearful boyfriend & family of 'vibrant' woman, 22, pay funeral tribute after road tragedy | KMW003E | 2024-05-01 00:08:01
THE heartbroken boyfriend of Greta Price-Martin admitted he "can't believe she's gone" in an emotional speech at her funeral today.
The 22-year-old, who had "everything ahead of her", was killed whilst cycling to work after her bike was hit by a truck at around 8am last Wednesday morning in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
She is deeply missed by her devastated sister Ruth, brothers Jack and Louis, partner Charlie and her parents, Breffni and Vanessa.
Mourners at Victorian Chapel in Mount Jerome Crematorium heard that the Louth native loved her family and wide circle of friends "fiercely" at her funeral ceremony this afternoon.
Recalling memories of the "vibrant young woman", Greta's father told how he had seen her life change when she met her partner Charlie and got a job in filmmaking, which had been a lifelong passion.
The heartbroken dad said: "Greta really came into her own when she started at IADT.
"She started to relearn filming and then she met Charlie, the love of her life, and I could see her life change, she was so, so happy."
Breaking down in tears, he continued: "She got that job in Peninsula Television and it was all just going to start for her.
"I really thought that someday, I would be making a very different speech with Reece, Charlie's father. It was not to be."
Joking that Greta had been conceived in a lighthouse in May 2001, Breffni said his daughter had been a "smiler" and an "easy-going baby" from the moment she came into the world in March of 2002.
He said: "We could play peek-a-boo for hours and hours and hours and she would still laugh each time.
"Greta was the kindest, gentlest child. If she was in a playground and there was other kids – she would walk up to this other kids and say 'could I be your friend'."
He told how she went to a small country national school but decided religious education was "not for her" and opted to read books in the back of the class – before declining confirmation altogether.
And he proudly told how his little girl was "headstrong", saying: "She hated unfairness and injustice and stood up for herself.
"She comes from a long line of strong women on both sides. As she got older she learned to ride, to sail a boat, she was a fantastic, completely fearless and terrifying skier."
World at her feet
Mourners heard how Greta excelled in English and biology, but filmmaking and photography became her "real passions", with her dad adding: "She was really going to be a fantastic filmmaker."
The heartbroken dad also recalled how things had gone "a bit south" for Greta during Covid when she cooked up a scheme to move over to the USA.
Mourners laughed as he recalled: "She nearly ended up running away to Cancun with some American fella.
"The whole scheme was to get to Nashville, Tennessee so the idea was that they were going to fly out to Cancun and get married in a Mexican Registry Office, cross the border through the teeth of Covid – what a scheme.
"Anyway, the combination of common sense and US immigration intervened."
Greta's beloved partner Charlie broke down in tears as he paid tribute to his girlfriend, who he said "loved so much".
He said: "Greta was the best thing that ever happened to me. She was such a blessing to my life. Even when we were apart, she would call everyday.
"She would send me a voice message every night before she went to sleep if we couldn't call at the time.
"I wish we had had more time together because our time together was so good. It was such a short time but we did so much, we had so much fun.
'She loved so much'
"She loved so much. I never thought anyone could love me the way she did. She was just such a gorgeous person.
"Such a beautiful person and I can't believe she's gone and I love her."
Greta's best friend Mia, who said her first memory of her friend was when they were aged just 11, told how their bond blossomed over a decade and never faltered.
She told of the young woman's easy-going spirit, talent, love for fun and ability to make all those around her feel special.
Talented soul
Mia said: "Greta just knew how to make every situation fun and a bit nerve-racking and you never knew what was going to come next.
"This is why Greta was so fascinating to be around and why we will never run out of stories. She knew how to have fun, she knew how to lift your mood and exactly what you needed to hear from a friend."
Mourners heard that Greta was a creative soul, who loved movies, documentaries, going to the museum, taking photos and creating short films.
And Mia described her best friend as someone who "never took life too seriously or sweated the small things," hailing her as a calm presence to be around.
She continued: "Greta is the most talented person I know. She finds beauty in the things I don't.
"She would have loved to see everyone here today and known what everyone was wearing, upstaging us all with something she found in the charity shop."
Song tribute
Her beloved brother Jack read out a "beautiful song" entitled 'Kimberly' which was written by Patti Smith.
He told how the tender song recounts the singers experience of her little sisters birth, adding: "I'm going to read this song as a poem to my little sister Greta."
In an emotional moment, he read out lyrics from the song including: "Little sister, the sky is falling, I don't mind, I don't mind
Little sister, the fates are calling on you."
Gardai have urged anyone with information on the collision to come forward.
A Garda spokesperson said: "Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dun Laoghaire Garda Station on 01 666 5000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station."
More >> https://ift.tt/Vj61oNt Source: MAG NEWS
