A Moving Farewell: The Funeral Mass of Irma di Santo

On Tuesday, 23 September 2025, St. Leonard’s Church, Naremburn, became a living testimony to love and faith as it overflowed with people gathered for the funeral Mass of Irma di Santo. Every pew was filled, every heart united in grief and gratitude, as family, friends, and parishioners commended this beloved woman to the eternal mercy of God.

Fr. Roger Delmonte, the main celebrant and homilist, spoke with honesty and tenderness. With nine priests standing behind him and a church packed to capacity, he admitted it was “the most nerve-wracking funeral” he had ever done, lightheartedly comparing it to “Church’s Got Talent.” Yet he quickly added that if Irma were there, she would have calmed him with her smile. That was Irma’s gift: she had a way of making everyone feel at home, valued, and loved.

In his homily, Fr. Roger painted Irma as a true “woman of virtue”, strong, wise, generous, and compassionate. Her love for the Eucharist, her active role in parish life, and her tireless devotion to her family revealed a faith that was lived, not only spoken. Even in illness, she radiated serenity, often saying: “I don’t worry too much. God knows everything about my life, and I leave it all to Him.”

It was no coincidence that her funeral fell on the feast of St. Padre Pio. His words, Pray, hope, and don’t worry”, could have been Irma’s own motto. She trusted deeply in God’s providence and lived with a peace that inspired everyone around her.

The chosen Scriptures reflected her life perfectly: the noble woman of Proverbs, the Shepherd of Psalm 23, and Christ’s promise in John’s Gospel: “In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places.” They echoed the truth that Irma both believed and embodied.

More than a farewell, the Mass became a thanksgiving. Fr. Roger reminded us that Irma’s life was a gift: planting seeds of faith, love, and kindness that continue to grow in her family and in all who knew her.

As the community bid her farewell, one truth was undeniable: Irma’s love has not ended, it lives on. She has simply gone ahead into the Father’s house, where joy has no end. Her legacy of faith, generosity, and hospitality will continue to shine in the parish, in her family, and in every heart she touched. Grazie di cuore, nostra cara Irma. Rest now in the peace of God.