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News from the 32

Dream Wedding Before Death

DROGHEDA bride Yvonne Corbally fulfilled her wish of marrying her sweetheart Peter Quinn on Thursday, November 26, before succumbing to cancer just two days later.

The beautiful 41-year-old had just announced her engagement on the previous Monday, after receiving the crushing news that the disease had left her with just a week to live.

Family and friends who had gathered for the bittersweet occasion in Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Thursday met once again to say farewell to the brave mother of three in the same church on Monday.

“She had been battling with breast cancer for a year and a half, and when she was told the news last Friday that she only had a week to live she decided she wanted to become Mrs. Quinn,” says widow Peter, with a hint of a fond smile.

“She even made me get down on one knee and give her a ring, and that's when her friends stepped in and organized the wedding in three days.”

Sadly, her close friend Debbie Whelan, who was to act as her bridesmaid on the day along with Carmel Cotterell, was also organizing Yvonne's funeral at the same time.

“She knew exactly what she wanted, even down to the dress and flowers, and enjoyed every last minute of the day,” she said.

“During the reception, she said it was the only time in her life she felt like a princess.”

Corbally met her husband 21 years ago, and the couple had three sons, Seamus, 21, Andrew, 19, and Niall, 17.

“The last thing Yvonne wanted was for people to feel sorry for her and the wedding was a real celebration, and I have never seen her look more beautiful,” says Quinn.

Her best friend Debbie helped her to get dressed that morning and put on her makeup, making sure her veil was sitting just right, before helping her into the vintage car that waited to take her to the Lourdes Church, where her fiancé was waiting with 60 family members and friends.

What separated her from other brides was Corbally knew she only had hours to live, and shortly after taking to the floor with her first dance as Mrs. Quinn, she slipped into a coma, where she died two days later.

“Yvonne found out she had breast cancer in May 2008, but didn't tell me until four months later,” says Quinn. “The minute she told me I took her to a doctor, but it was already too late and it had developed into bone cancer.”

The wedding was booked for 3 p.m. on Thursday, but the bride was in so much pain she didn't get to the altar until 4:20 p.m.

Corbally was confined to a wheelchair in the latter half of her illness, but still managed to have her first dance with her new husband.

“She loved the song 'Country Road' and it was played at the wedding and funeral. She had a ball at the wedding, but got very tired and later on that night, she just slipped into a coma and never woke up. It was a very happy day and very peaceful death,” Quinn added.
Drogheda Independent



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