{"id":22996,"date":"2021-09-07T12:56:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-07T16:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22996"},"modified":"2021-09-08T14:58:24","modified_gmt":"2021-09-08T18:58:24","slug":"people-line-the-streets-of-derry-to-bid-farewell-to-pat-hume","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22996","title":{"rendered":"People Line The Streets Of Derry To Bid Farewell To Pat Hume"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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For the second time in little more than a year, the people of Derry lined the streets outside imposing St Eugene\u2019s Cathedral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the black hearse carrying the wicker coffin slowly drove past there was silence at first, before a smattering of applause grew to become a crescendo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scene was strikingly similar to the funeral procession of SDLP leader and Nobel Peace prize-winner John Hume last August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time it was his beloved wife Pat the people of the city were turning out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like so many other recent funerals, the shadow of Covid hung over the service, with the number of mourners greatly reduced and wearing face masks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While tributes had come from around the world for Pat Hume, this felt like a more local affair, with mourners restricted to family, representatives from the SDLP and a small number of dignitaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irish President Michael D Higgins entered the cathedral just ahead of the Hume family. Lord Trimble, the man who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with John Hume, was there with his wife Daphne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seemed that many local people had, however, been following events online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Halfway through the service, the streets were close to deserted; by its conclusion, several hundred had gathered on the pavements to pay their own final tribute to the woman who many referred to as \u201cDerry\u2019s First Lady\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who worked with John Hume have said it was impossible to know him without also knowing Pat. This was underlined by their son Aidan during the service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told mourners: \u201cMum was at his right hand throughout his entire life \u2014 his best friend, his closest confidante, his loving wife, his trusted adviser, his political antenna.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The applause followed the cortege as it wound its way along the streets, on its final journey towards the City Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following John Hume\u2019s funeral last year, Pat Hume had travelled in a funeral car behind his hearse and acknowledged those who had come to say their own personal thank you following the death of her husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time, they were saying a final goodbye to her.<\/p>\n

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