Last farewell to teenager Jessie Wright, ‘our princess’, says devastated Mother

Published: 6 May, 2010
by ROISIN GADELRAB

THE mother of teenager Jessie Wright has spoken for the first time about her daughter’s death, revealing how it has devastated her family.
Johanna Ronayne broke her silence as the funeral of the 16-year-old took place on Friday. Jessie’s body was found in an alleyway near York Way in King’s Cross in March. A teenager has been charged with murder.
Her mother said: “It has torn our hearts and taken away a big part of our lives. I am devastated, heartbroken. There are no words really to explain how you are feeling unless it has happened to you.
“I will get justice, but justice will never bring back my beautiful baby. You can understand if someone elderly dies but for your son or daughter to be taken away, it’s indescribable.”
Hundreds of friends and relatives gathered outside the packed church for her funeral at Islington Cemetery in East Finchley.
The chapel could have been filled three times over by mourners who travelled by car and minibus to say their final goodbyes to the former Maria Fidelis School pupil.
A white horse-drawn hearse led the cortège from outside her grandparents’ home in Kinross House on the Bemerton estate, along Caledonian Road and on to the cemetery.
Floral tributes came in the shape of Ugg boots, handbags, pink perfume bottles and a bottle of St Tropez spray tan.
Her coffin was carried into the church to Leona Lewis’s Footprints in the Sand.
Ms Ronayne said: “Jessie’s funeral was like a beautiful fairy tale as if she was a princess. Jess was our princess. It was perfect, overwhelming, with pink flowers everywhere.
“I would like to say thank you to Rev Michael [Learmouth], Millers funeral directors, family and friends and our local community for all of their support. It’s brought the community together.”
She added: “Something’s being done in Jessie’s memory but I’m hoping councillors and the council can do more for youngsters, give them something to do. They’ve got Crumbles Castle [adventure playground] but it only goes up to 14 years.”
Mr Learmouth, of St Andrew’s Church, in Thornhill Square, Barnsbury, led the service, where he spoke of the outrage at the way Jessie “was taken from us”. He made a call to mourners to “reclaim the community for the power of good”.
Jessie’s grandfather, Ken Lucraft, paid tribute to the teenager, who had spent her final days living with her grandparents.
He said: “There is no measure in words to the amount of affection that Jessie drew from her loved ones, lifting their hearts with her cheeky smile and her generosity of spirit.
“No matter how seemingly small an issue, she always cared. In death and separation, Jessie brought the love and togetherness she strove for in life across the whole of her family and friends.
“The bond that links your true family is not one of just blood but of respect and joy in each other’s lives and achieve­ments. Jessie knew that rarely do members of one family grow under just one roof.”
He added: “I don’t think we ever realised how proud Jess was of all us. I don’t think we ever realised how proud we were of Jess.
“Jessie was big in life but I wonder if anybody realised just how much larger than life she really was.”
As the funeral ended, Mariah Carey’s Hero played from speakers outside the church. Friends and family later went on to Kennedy’s pub in Caledonian Road.
Jessie’s aunt, Sarah Lucraft, said: “I got Kelly and Zoe from Crazy Flowers in Caledonian Road to make the Ugg boots. They did a fantastic job. I’d just like to thank everybody, specially my family and friends.”
Caledonian ward councillors Rupert Perry and Paul Convery joined mourners. They have promised to help Jessie’s family and friends “place a lasting and fitting memorial to Jessie in the neighbourhood”.