"A HEROIC VOYAGER" is how one of her closest friends described Mary Lavin as the writer made her final journey from her home parish of Dunderry to St Mary's Cemetery in Navan, Co Meath, yesterday afternoon.
"An earthy, tough, glowing woman, she was a passionate person with a great thirst for life", film maker Tom Hayes told the family members and friends who gathered in the small church in Dunderry to say farewell.
"She knew the many secrets of the heart, for her life was all about living", he said. "For me, she never grew old. She sometimes grew difficult, but the sudden recollection of some quirky incident would bring that wicked smile back to play about her lips, and all was well again."
His was one of the many moving tributes paid to the 83 year old writer, who died on Monday.
A mother of three, she had spent her life between her farm in Bective, Co Meath, and the mews in Lad Lane in Dublin where, Mr Hayes explained, she held court and encouraged all the young Turks of the Irish literary scene.
Many of the writers and artists she helped were at yesterday's funeral. The playwright Tom McIntyre, speaking at her graveside, told how she had opened his eyes to the world.
Father Sean Heaney, who concelebrated Requiem Mass with Father John Feighery, described her as a true artist with an artist's perception of reality which inspired and taught all who come in contact with her work.
"Mary Lavin's art ensures that her memory will stay with many generations of people for the future", he said.
The chief mourners at yesterday's funeral ceremony were Ms Lavin's three daughters, Ms Valdi McMahon, Ms Elizabeth Peavoy and Ms Caroline Walsh, who is features editor of The Irish Times.
The President was represented by Comdt Hugo Bonar and the Taoiseach by Capt Maurice McQuillan.