Aaron Doherty, 17, was ‘a unique gift’ to his family, cleric tells mourners

His family say they were told Aaron, who had underlying health issues, died from heart failure.  

He is survived by his parents Jim and Susan, siblings Samatha and Ryan. The funeral mass was held today in St Columba’s church in Londonderry. It was closed to the public, with everyone present wearing facemasks.

One mourner at the start of the service gave a reading to bring understanding to death at such a young age.

He said: ”Length of days is not what makes age honourable, nor number of years the true measure of life; understanding - this is man’s grey hairs. Untarnished life - this is ripe old age.“

Fr Joseph Gormley told mourners Aaron had been “a unique gift from God” to his family.

He added: “Surely God who gave you such a great gift is so gracious and good that he will be with you now as that gift [Aaron] goes back to himself [God].” 

The priest praised Aaron’s parents for their spirituality during their loss.

“Jim and Susan, one of the privileges of being a priest is to meet people in the depths of their pain, speaking words of wisdom. It leaves you as a priest very humbled. 

“And that is what happened the other morning when I spoke to you both just after you had got word about Aaron’s death.

”Both of you said it was a privilege to know the child, thanking God for the gift of Aaron. And to hear those words said something of your relationship together but also the way Christ was working in you and through you both even though your hearts were breaking.”

For all who knew him Aaron was “kind, caring, thoughtful - no wonder he was a golden boy,” he said.

In a lighter moment, which brought gentle laughter, Fr Gormley said school was maybe not Aaron’s favorite place.

“I am told he would sign at reception and go in one and maybe out the other,” he said. However a photograph of Aaron at the front of the church showed him completing his schooling, he added.

He said that Aaron’s father had told a story of going to the races with his son, where Aaron had won five races. Impressed, his father asked Aaron to buy him a pint.

”But he said: ‘No. Six Euro a pint was too much for him to spend”.

The cleric also noted Aaron was well known in the community from his job in McDonalds and was evidently “well loved”. He was also working towards getting his driving test, with a keen focus on making sure there would be enough room in the car for his nephews Riley and Kevin Barry.

Aaron supported four different football teams, Celtic, Liverpool, Everton and Ireland, he noted: “He said at least one of them will win some day”.

He added that he had been struck by the way Aaron “allowed himself to continue to live life”, even though he suffered from Cushings disease, which effects the normal levels of Cortisol in the body, and which he said eventually claimed Aaron’s life. He had tested positive some time before for Covid but his family insist he was negative when he died.

“But God worked through Aaron and helped him to carry that illness with great joy.”

He also highlighted Aaron’s courage: ”I am told at one time that when they were trying to get blood from him he was literally a pin cushion because they couldn’t get it sorted.

”Seventeen or 18 times they tried to get blood from him. But he just said ‘keep on going until you get it’. Another person would have said ‘I have had enough’. But Aaron never said that.”

Aaron never thought of himself, even the morning he died, he said. At that time he had been trying to contact his family from hospital. ”It wasn’t about him. It was always about his family.”

He also praised Aaron’s for being “gentle and humble of heart”. 

“He must have been very close to Christ to be that gentle and humble of heart in the midst of his illness, in facing life.”

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