A funeral was held for Dolores O'Riordan, the Irish lead singer of the popular alternative rock band The Cranberries, who passed away just last week. The "Dreams" singer's contributions and memory were honored by the hundreds who attended her funeral at a small church called Saint Ailbe's Catholic Church in Ballybricken, County Limerick, Ireland.
Father Liam McNamara led the mass for O'Riordan's funeral. In his homily, he described the Irish singer as a kind person, despite the fame and recognition that she had received ever since The Cranberries skyrocketed into popularity. Father McNamara also stated that O'Riordan's songs and musical talents were instrumental in helping troubled and depressed individuals get through difficult times in their lives.
Father McNamara went on further to state that "No words are adequate to describe Dolores or to accurately state the influence for good she has been over the years." The Cranberries are responsible for hit songs such as "Zombie" and "Linger" -- both of which are still widely listened to until this day.
It appears that O'Riordan was a practicing Catholic, and had even joined the local church choir in Saint Ailbe's back in her youth. The service itself was quite emotional, and started with music playing in the background of O'Riordan's duet with acclaimed tenor Luciano Pavarotti singing "Ave Maria."
Father McNamara emotionally recalled the early times of how O'Riordan stood out in the choir, as she played the church keyboard and sang along with the other choir members. At that time, it was clear to Father McNamara that O'Riordan had an exceptional talent with her voice, and that the singer was motivated to use her blessings to honor God and help as many people as she possibly could.
The cause of O'Riordan's death is yet to be determined. The Irish singer passed away in her hotel room on Jan. 15 at the age of 46. She is survived by her three children, Molly, Dakota, and Taylor.
