Janice Larkin

“No need for words except to say, loved and remembered every day.”

Janice Larkin passed away peacefully on the 9th January at Cork University Hospital.

Janice, a much loved mother of Amy. Sadly missed by her loving daughter, partner Rick, brother Steve, sister Aideen, sister-in-law Ger, nephew Daniel, nieces Fiona, Faye and Keela and all her relatives and friends.

When we chose the readings for today, the one that stood out was the second reading that speaks of God’s love, saying that those who live in love, live in God. Because ‘Love’ is the one word that sums Janice up. For those of us lucky enough to enjoy Janice’s friendship, we knew what it was like to experience genuine love.

Throughout her many illnesses Janice never wanted to talk about herself, instead deflecting any attention away with questions like, What about you? Are you OK? How is the job going? How are the girls? Is there anything I can do? Janice was passionate about her family and her friends.

She also had a great love for her cats, for cooking, for entertaining, for music and laughter, and it is no coincidence that the last four of these involved people and an effort to make them happy. And of course Janice loved the men in her life, Jim, Duisko and Rick. Rick who cared for her patiently and diligently over the last number of years in his own act of love.

Janice loved to travel and try out different foods and restaurants but only if it was shared with someone she loved. She longed for her next little break away with Ashley, or a weekend in London with Amy.  Amy her miracle, her greatest love of all.

So today we celebrate a very special life, one filled with courage, curiosity and dignity. We celebrate a life well lived, even as we mourn our own loss, but I know that her love lives on and certainly I know that each of us is still loved by Janice.