AN Irish woman who was killed in New York has been remembered as “daddy’s girl” and “larger than life” at her funeral mass today.
Devastated family and friends gathered to pay their respects to Sarah McNally in St. Mel’s Cathedral, Longford this morning.
The 41-year-old was knifed at The Céilí House pub where she worked on Grand Avenue in Maspeth, Queens, last Saturday at around at around 6.30pm.
The Longford native had previously worked for the Irish Prison Service.
She was stabbed while working as a bartender in the pub and her boyfriend Marcin Pieciak, 36, has been charged with her murder.
The NYPD also told the Irish Sun he faces two further raps of criminal possession of two knives.
Her friend Aine told the funeral how Sarah was the Lisa-Marie to her father’s Elvis as the two shared a close bond.
The father and daughter’s unbreakable bond was highlighted when Sarah by Thin Lizzy was played to the congregation.
Sarah was also remembered as “a unique force to be reckoned with”.
Aine said: “How do you sum up Sarah McNally, you can’t.
“She was larger than life, she was someone special. A unique force to be reckoned with, she was made for great things.
“Everyone in her community at home and abroad are shell shocked – none more so than her beloved family.
“She was your everything, your baby, your life, your one and only. Sarah was so well known, for her beauty, her kindness and huge personality.
“She went out to take on the world with the ability she gained from her doting parents.”
Aine went on to speak about the particularly close relationship Sarah shared with her father Des.
She continued: “There’s so many good things to say about her but there’s not enough time.
“She was loyal, trustworthy and she gave the best hugs. We were proud to know her.
“She was daddy’s girl, you gave her the confidence she had, and the independence and the gift of the gab.
“She had savvy and she could hold her own, remaining true to herself, always.
“She shared a love of music with you Dessie, to your Elvis, she was Lisa-Marie.”
Sarah was an only-child, which Aine credited to being the reason for her strong sense of independence and her wide circle of friends both at home and abroad.
She said: “Being an only child made her embrace people more, and friends became family.
“No matter where she went in the world, she treated everyone with no judgement and everyone loved her.
“She had an extensive group of friends, a broad mix, she was loved and treasured by all her amigas and amigos, as she called them.
“She was so fun, and lighthearted and you would always laugh in Sarah’s company.
“Above all we remember her happy smile and her laugh.”
Aine told the funeral goers of Sarah’s “tomboy” tendencies when she was younger, like her love for cars.
Aine said: “She was known for her love of cars and would have loved to have rallied Dorrie’s car around the domain when she was 15 if she could only get it past the driveway.
“Only Sarah would have a purple car that changed colour in the sun and she was absolutely delighted when her picture appeared in a car magazine after she went to a rally.”
Ending her heartbreaking eulogy, Aine recalled the kind words the public had been saying since her death.
She noted that messages had been coming through from all over the world, and of the kind words shared, it was a reflection of the type of person Sarah was.
She said: “Talking to people about Sarah, one word they always mention is kindness, she had a heart of gold.
“She remembered the little things about everyone, and you could tell her anything.
“She made a lasting impression on people, one that we will all remember forever.”
Aine finished by quoting lyrics from one of Sarah’s favourite Tupac songs, Dear Mama, reflecting the tight-knit bond she also had with her mum Dorrie.
Sarah had been living in New York City for around ten years and was remembered as “sweet and innocent” by those who knew her there.
She died after a stab wound to the neck, losing her battle for her life at Elmhurst Hospital.
Pieciak, who has an address in Queens, was tased by cops after he refused orders to drop the knives at the scene.
He had also suffered from self-inflicted wounds however, following treatment, he was arrested by cops last Monday.
