More than 500 members of the New Canaan community—family, friends, police, firefighters, paramedics, fellow parishioners and other supportive residents—packed into St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church Wednesday night to remember Declan Cooney as a loving and loved, vivacious, infectiously happy, enthusiastic and adventurous boy.
Declan died suddenly last Friday. He would have turned two June 19.
“He was part of an extraordinary family and he delighted in the experience,” grandfather Leo Cooney said during the memorial service.
“When he learned your name, you knew you were special to him.”
Declan’s mother was described as the boy’s best friend and soul mate. “She was the center of his life—until he spotted a familiar figure coming up the walk. Daddy was home and everything stopped.”
During the first part of the service, the poem “Young Life Cut Short” was read. It includes these lines: “Do not judge a song by its duration, Nor by the number of its notes, Judge it by the richness of its contents, Sometimes those unfinished are among the most poignant.”
Readings from the Bible included Lamentations 3:17-26, Revelation 21:1-5A, 6B-7 and Mark 10:13-16. The hundreds gathered sang the hymns “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God,” “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” and “How Great Thou Art.”
During the homily, Msgr. William Scheyd said that God’s spirit lives in every human being. “God wants us to live to the fullest,” he said.
“Death is a terrible intrusion,” Scheyd added, saying it leaves survivors afflicted and in pain.
Addressing Declan’s siblings directly, Scheyd invoked the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and told the children that now is the season for rainbows, which typically appear after a storm. Quoting the line from the song that somewhere over the rainbow “is a place where dreams come true,” the monsignor encouraged them to think of Declan any time they spotted one.
“That’s where Declan is now, with his God,” Scheyd said.
Declan Cooney.
During the Prayers of Intercession, those gathered at St. Aloysius responded “Lord hear our prayer” to each of the following prayers:
First we pray for Declan, in gratitude for his precious life, that he may now be prepared to live in your great love, we pray to the Lord.
For Declan’s terrific parents, Josh and Jude, for his brother and sisters, that they may know our love and support in their great sorrow, we pray to the Lord.
For Declan’s loving grandparents, uncles, aunts, relatives and friends of the family, that they may know God’s consolation in this time of loss, we pray to the Lord.
For this community, for its pastors and all its ministers, who assist those who grieve, that they may be faithful in bearing one of His burdens, and offer support to one another in all times of need, we pray to the Lord.
For all those who mourn for their children, that they may be comforted in the face of loss, we pray to the Lord.
For all who are in need, that the fearful may find peace, the weary rest, and the oppressed freedom, we pray to the Lord.
We pray for peace in the world, and peace in each one of our hearts, we pray to the Lord.
In addition to Leo Cooney and his wife, Kathleen, Declan is survived by his parents, Josh and Jude Cooney, sisters Lydon, Keira and Niamh, brother Teddy, grandparents Steve and Cindy Whitaker of Watertown and great-grandfather Edward Walsh. Following the Closing Hymn, Scheyd invited those in attendance to offer words of condolence directly to Declan’s family, saying “The church is yours.” Those unable to attend or address the Cooneys in person may offer condolences here. Declan’s obituary may be found here.