The grieving husband of Marian Finucane has said that the RTE legend had been planning her retirement just last month.
An emotional John Clarke told the packed congregation at St Brigid’s Church in Kill, Co Kildare for the broadcaster's funeral that he and Marian had discussed her future in December.
He said: “She always made the colours brighter, the world a bit easier to live in.
"Last December, she decided to retire.
"We would have more time, more space, more books to read, more places to see, sadly that's not going to happen."
He spoke of the devotion they showed to each other and said "an acquaintance had described them as like 15-year-old adolescents who were addicted to each other and forgot to grow up."
Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of the broadcasting giant today.
Ireland's queen of talk radio, who was 69, died suddenly at her Punchestown, Co Kildare home last Thursday.
The chief mourners at today's funeral mass at St Brigid's Church in Kill were her husband John and their son Jack.
They were joined by other relatives and friends in paying a final tribute to the broadcaster, as well Marian's colleagues from RTE.
The funeral mass of Marian Finucane had an added poignancy for the RTE family, who are also coming to terms with the death announced this morning of 2FM's legendary DJ Larry Gogan.
