Hundreds of mourners packed into St Senan’s church in Kilmacow in South Kilkenny yesterday afternoon for the funeral mass of a 13 year old boy who was killed in a car crash outside Kilkenny city last month.
13-year-old Billy Rockett, who was a first year student at Abbey Community College in Waterford, died tragically in a road traffic accident on Wednesday, June 21.
The accident has also left his father Liam in a serious condition in the Mater Hospital in Dublin.
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Chief celebrant at the ‘mass of the angels’ Fr Martin Tobin, spoke of Billy’s kindness, love, compassion, and intelligence, saying: “Oh, God, why? Why an innocent, adorable, beautiful boy? Why? He was humble, he was kind, caring, loving, compassionate, empathetic, a living, walking, talking, Google. And as one family member said to me, he was too good for this world.”
Fr Tobin added ‘’Billy was simply a gift.’’
Fr Tobin told the congregation that Billy was a member of Ferrybank scouts and quoting the scouts motto of ‘always be ready’ he questioned ‘’how could anyone be ready for this|? If there were a thousand ways to say sorry we would not be able to do it.
"We are all feeling the heartache with the family. There are layers upon people saddened by today. Billy’s life was no ordinary life. He was special’’.
Fr Tobin also prayed for the team helping Liam in the Mater hospital, helping with farm work, and helping the family. Quoting Christy Keanneally’s poetry, he said ‘’Billy you didn’t die young, you lived your span of life’’.
A number of items were brought to the altar to remember Billy including a Waterford United jersey and a pillow pet.
Tributes were also paid by the local church committee to Billy’s four years as an exceptional altar boy and his uncle and Godfather Martin Dowling ‘’thanked all who had looked after the family’’.
He is survived by his parents Liam and Jo, his sisters Ellen, Marie and Hannah.
