A funeral service was held today, August 30, 2025,‍ at a local church for Mia, a ​17-year-old who ‌tragically passed away.The service, led⁤ by Fr Waldron, celebrated Mia’s vibrant ‌life and the profound impact she⁣ had on those around her.

Attendees heard that Mia possessed a remarkable capacity for love and⁤ loyalty. “She loved deeply and when she ​loved you, you felt it. she was ‍fiercely loyal, you‌ weren’t her true friend⁣ if she hadn’t blocked ⁤you ‍at‌ some point,” ‌a speaker shared, reflecting on her passionate nature.

Fr Waldron acknowledged the⁣ incomprehensibility of the loss, stating, “What happened to her was tragic and there are no words that can make sense of it.” however, he ​emphasized​ the enduring legacy of Mia’s spirit.

“But I ‌do know ​her ‌spirit, her laughter, her honesty, her dreams and her love⁤ will never leave us.”

He described Mia as someone who ​embraced life with ‍boldness and enthusiasm. “She lived her life boldly and she made an ‍impact on everyone⁤ who knew her.” Fr Waldron further characterized Mia as “so young, ⁤so full⁣ of dreams, so beautifully alive.”

The ⁢priest ​painted a⁣ picture of a young woman⁢ full of energy and determination. “Mia did not just walk quietly through life, she ⁢ran, she danced, ​she⁢ climbed,” he said. “She was always chasing after ⁢something that mattered,‍ she lived her adventures.”

Those‍ who knew her remembered Mia’s​ cleverness, playfulness, and mischievous spirit. “She was clever, she was cheeky, ⁣she was mischievous ‌in the best of ways, she had​ a spark in her eye when she told you she knew ‍exactly‌ what she was doing, usually it was something fun or something a bit bold, or​ maybe both.”

Family members ‌shared that beneath her playful exterior lay a strong sense of purpose. “Behind that roguish grin was something deeper. Her family were⁤ telling me how resolute she ⁣was, she didn’t ⁤just dream, she⁤ chased after her dreams, she sprinted after them with everything she had.”

A poignant‌ detail shared during the service‍ was the arrival of the log book for Mia’s new car ‌at her family home on ​Friday, August 29, 2025. ​Fr Waldron‌ recounted, “She would have been⁣ jumping around the room with joy; she had her alloy‌ wheels, she had ⁢her windows tinted and she had ⁣a big fluffy keyring.”

He noted her‍ eagerness ⁢to ⁢begin driving, emphasizing her‌ proactive⁣ approach ‍to life. “she was determined she was going to be driving. She didn’t just wait for ⁣life to come to ​her, she lived it.”

Fr Waldron‌ concluded that Mia’s influence extended far beyond her ‌years. ⁣”She⁤ has left⁣ behind‍ a legacy for all of us gathered ‍here​ in the church far bigger than her 17 years.” He highlighted her kindness and compassion, stating, “She‌ taught us that we ⁢just ⁢need a heart, we​ need a heart for ⁣everyone, to be kind, to help one another and she had that⁢ in abundance.”

Addressing ⁤the young people in attendance, Fr ​Waldron offered a message of caution and support.‍ “I just want you to be careful, to watch out for yourself, to be cautious, to ​think about​ the⁣ choices that we make, to be there for each other.”

He relayed a request from Mia’s family,”Thay⁣ asked me⁢ to say that,that you would‌ mind yourself‌ and that ⁣you would care for yourselves.” He acknowledged the⁢ complexities of life, adding, “All⁤ of us make different choices every day, some of them ‍are the right​ choices, some of ‌them are the wrong choices, but please ‍to all ​the young ⁢people,⁤ just mind yourselves.”

Following‍ the mass, Mia was ‍laid to⁢ rest at St Mary’s cemetery.