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Robbie Kane & Roisin Cullen

'Truly wonderful person' Judy Rock remembered at emotional funeral mass

Judy Rock was described as a "truly wonderful person" and a "beautiful mam" who loved to stay out of the limelight at her funeral mass today.

Celebrities, friends at family gathered in the Church of the Annunciation in Rathfarnham to remember the wife of Dublin showband legend Dickie Rock.

Much-loved singer Dickie was hugged by his children and grandchildren throughout the extremely emotional service.

Read more: Dublin showband legend Dickie Rock's wife Judy passes away

The soulmates had been married for nearly six decades and Dickie previously spoke of how difficult being in their home without Judy was.

The mother-of-six sadly passed away in St Vincent's Hospital after contracting Covid-19.

Phil Coulter, Twink, Paddy Cole and Finbar Furey were just some of the famous faces present at the 11:30am mass.

Judy Rock's coffin outside of the Church of the Annunciation (Robbie Kane)

The family remembered Judy's son Joseph who had died in 1992 at the young age of 25 and said that Judy was always happiest when surrounded by her family.

Her grandkids brought lavender to the altar as well as photos remembering important aspects of the kind lady's life.

Judy's love of Spain was constantly referenced, a place where the couple had many happy memories.

Judy's youngest son Peter said that the family had planned to go on holiday there together this summer before Judy became ill.

He also revealed that Dickie fell in love with Judy the very first moment he saw her.

He said: "I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the doctors and staff at St Vincent's Hospital who did all they could to help Mum. To us, Mum was our rock and the glue that kept us all together.

"We were all booked to go to Spain this summer for a big family get together. Up to seven weeks ago, we were planning where to go and what to do. This has been tragically taken away from us.

A booklet for Judy Rock's funeral mass (Robbie Kane)

"Mum and Dad have been together for 57 years. They set a shining example of the kind of unconditional love required to see a marriage through good times and bad. Once Dad had set his eyes on her, the most beautiful lady he had ever seen- it was love at first sight for him.

"Mum did everything with Dad and for Dad. Mum kept the show on the road through thick and thin but I know how proud she was of Dad and all he had achieved.

Her brother Tony said that she loved being just another name while living in Spain and was always happier to stay in the shadows..

He stressed that family was everything to the Dublin woman and that she was always by Dickie's side.

Tony said: "In '65 she met Richard and in '66 they were married. As was the practice in those days, Joseph came along in '67 closely followed by Jason, John and Richie in quick succession. After four sons, she finally got her wish and had her lovey daughter Sarah, followed by little baby Peter.

"The only thing that gave her as much joy as her own children was the arrival of her seven grandchildren many years later. She doted on them all but she had a special place for her first grandchild Ben- her little sunshine.

"After Joseph was born, it became obvious that something was amiss. He wasn't meeting his milestones and so forth. Judy and Richard coped fantastically with this challenge like many other families. There were far fewer supports then as there are nowadays.

"Joseph passed on in '92 aged 25- a fine, big man."

"Every family has its ups and downs, the highs and lows. The Rocks were no different. Judy never liked the limelight. She was happiest staying in the shadows.

"I think it was the anonymity of Spain that Judy loved. Out there, she was simply Ms. Average.

"No one will miss her more than her soulmate of nearly six decades- Richard. Today is the celebration of a truly wonderful person. It's very common practice in eulogies to say how wonderful he or she was regardless of who or what they were. In Judy's case- it's all true. She really was a good person with strong old-fashioned values- honesty, trust and decency."

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