Sassy and brave Kerry girl Lily Anna (10) was a little firecracker who ‘touched the lives of so many’

Described as the 'sassiest little girl', the stories from her ten short years brought joy to the congregation and her family at the funeral mass in St Brendan's Church, Tralee, on Monday.

The whole county, not just her hometown of Tralee, has been left devastated by the death of the brave little girl who has been fighting cancer for several years but who finally lost her battle with illness. In fact, her popularity extended from her St Joseph's Estate home, across the country and into other parts of the world.

But while sadness prevails, Lily Anna will be remembered for her warmth and kindness and her 'unfiltered' honesty.

"She came out kicking and screaming and she lived her life that way," her mother Lorraine told the congregation, adding: "She was the sassiest little girl you could ever meet, she was a firecracker".

Lily Anna's love of skincare, make-up and all things pretty, were evident as stories were shared of her plans to have her own skincare brand in the future. Stories were also shared of her love of make-up and doing nails for friends and family and even her teachers – male and female – as she once brought nail varnish into school to share her skills. This routine of skin-care and make-up also helped her through her illness in the last few years and was a 'comfort' during every difficult times, her mother said.

Lorraine also spoke of her daughter's friends, not just the little friends, but those more mature as she touched everyone, no matter what age.

"Because of her impact, she brought people into our lives to help us through this," Lorraine revealed, adding how Lily Anna bravely fought her illness, never letting it get her down, even when she had her hand amputated.

"There was nothing that girl couldn't do," continued Lorraine.

Tributes were also paid by Holy Family National School where Lily Anna was adored by her school-friends and teachers and in a moving tribute by principal Maria O'Regan on behalf of the school, her 'unmistakable presence' was praised.

"She had warmth, charm and lots of sass," Ms O'Regan said.

"She had an uncanny way of being honest without hurting feelings... We learned from her, from her bravery, her humility, her kindness. She was an example to us all and her legacy will inspire us."

And the principal also referred to Lily Anna's love of make-up and skincare which spread too to school as teachers had been promised free skincare products when Lily Anna had her own range and "if given the chance, she would have done it".

Lily Anna was rushed to Crumlin's Children's Hospital just days after her seventh birthday. Her family found themselves in the middle of a living nightmare after Lily Anna got a bump on her hand while playing on a trampoline. She wasn't injured, but the swelling remained.

Though thinking little of it, Lorraine decided to take Lily Anna to A&E, and this decision set in motion a chain of events with Lily Anna eventually being diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer in her hand.

She bravely fought the cancer and it was believed, for a time, she would overcome the illness but it returned, leading to her hand being amputated.

She donated this to research, once again showing not only kindness but bravery and a hope to help others who must brave this rare cancer.

In fact Lily helped raise money and awareness through her long battle and this was just another sign of the wonderful girl that she was.

Over the past three years the community have rallied around her family, including her Mom and Dad Josefz, better known as Dodi, who is from Slovakia.

Lorraine worked at the Dunloe Hotel and Gardens in Beaufort, and Dodi worked at The Tankard in Fenit. Lily Anna is also survived by her brothers and sisters Dean, Jack, Eli, Muireann and Sabhadh.

The congregation was told that Lily Anna 'has now finished the race' but she had 'touched the lives of so many, some who had never even met her but had heard about'.

And as her funeral mass finished her favourite song 'Drivers Licence' by Olivia Rodrigo was played – a fitting goodbye to the hero she was.