Tributes paid to doctor killed in Air France crash
An Irish woman killed in the Air France disaster was in love with her childhood sweetheart and about to start her dream job as a surgeon, her funeral mass heard today.
Dr Jane Deasy, 27, from Dublin, was with her two friends, Dr Aisling Butler and Dr Eithne Walls when the flight crashed into the Atlantic last month, killing all 228 people on board.
Hundreds of mourners packed a church in the south Dublin suburb of Ranelagh to pay a final farewell to the young medic.
In a moving tribute, her younger sister Caragh described her as a princess.
“Jane was an exceptionally special, loving and unique person to all of us,” she said. “Her qualities were evident, but the ones that stick out in my mind are beautiful, caring, kind, hardworking and generous.
“Her stunning beauty did not go unnoticed, yet she was quite unaware of its extent. In my eyes a real-life princess.”
Dr Deasy’s body was identified earlier this month after being pulled from the ocean, but the remains of her two friends were never recovered.
The families of Dr Butler and Dr Walls attended the service.
She had been in Brazil with her two friends and was flying home for a friend’s wedding when the horrific crash occurred.
All three were Trinity College graduates forging out promising careers as doctors.
Caragh said her beloved sister would be remembered as someone devoted to her close-knit family, her parents Joseph and Barbara and other sister Alison.
She was due to start a new job at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin on July 1, following in the footsteps of her father, a consultant oncologist at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital.
Her younger sister Alison, who is also studying medicine, and Caragh said Jane had been a constant source of inspiration.
“Jane I am so proud to be your sister and even though your life was cut so tragically short, I would not swap a day with you for anything,” Caragh said.
“You are the best sister Alison and I could ever wish for. A true best friend. I will never stop talking to you Jane and will be constantly asking for your advice. Words cannot describe how much we will miss you.”
Caragh also paid tribute to Drs Walls and Butler as well as Dr Deasy’s fiance Alex Creavin, whom she met in her teenage years.
“If Jane was a princess, then Alex was most definitely her prince,” she said. “There was nothing Alex would not do for Jane. They met and fell in love as teenagers while studying for their Leaving Certificate and grew up together.”
Throughout the mass a framed photograph of the young medic rested on top of her coffin.
Surgeon’s scrubs and a stethoscope were brought to the altar during the mass, as well as Dr Deasy’s beloved red patent shoes which she wore at hospital.
A framed photograph of the three friends who died together and an Irish flag representing Dr Deasy’s love for Ireland were also offered as a tribute.
An American flag was also presented as she was born in Boston, while finally a watch and necklace were offered, presents from fiance Alex.
Dr Deasy was wearing the gifts when her body was recovered.
Two Irish detectives were sent to Brazil last month to help identify some of the 51 bodies pulled from the Atlantic.
The Brazilian military has called off its hunt for further remains.
