Many mourn the sudden death of Sean McCoy

Intermountain Catholic

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The McCoy family (left) walk behind the casket of their brother and son, Sean, to be taken to his final resting place, following the funeral Mass that was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Madeleine June 24. IC photo by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — "We come together to grieve the tragic loss of Sean McCoy," said Father Joseph Mayo, rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine in a solemn funeral Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine June 24. "We grieve over the loss of one so young."

Fr. Mayo concelebrated the funeral Mass for Sean with Father John Norman, and Msgr. Francis Mannion. Deacon Silvio Mayo, chancellor of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, and Deacon Lynn Johnson of the Cathedral of the Madeleine assisted as the altar. The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, attended the funeral in choir.

The McCoy family are members of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, Salt Lake City.

"The McCoy family has strong ties with this place – for the last 11 years they have shuttled their boys to and from the Cathedral and the Madeleine Choir School for Masses, concerts, school days, and more," said Fr. Mayo. "Jeff and Marge McCoy have been tireless workers on behalf of the school and the choir. It is tremendously hard for all of us to be here with you today as we commend Sean to his final rest."

Sean, 16, plummeted to his death June 19 when he fell 40 feet through a glass skylight and onto the floor of Bonneville Junior High School’s gymnasium. He had been walking on the roof of the school when the fatal fall occurred about 5:25 p.m. at the school located at 5330 South 1660 East, Salt Lake City. The McCoys live across the street from the school.

McCoy just finished his sophomore year at Judge Memorial Catholic High School.

"Sean was an integral part of our community," said Rick Bartman, principal of Judge Memorial. "He was our son, he was our brother, he was our friend, and we will miss him greatly. But, we, in our faith, know that he is with the Lord today, and that helps us through this. Our job now in the coming months and years is to support Sean’s family with our Judge Memorial family, and to ensure they want for nothing."

"He was a very active and lively young man, who had a diversity of talents and interests," said Fr. Mayo in his homily. "He was a good student, and knew the need for self-discipline and work in becoming a vital member of his community. He was a skilled athlete, participating in tennis and other sports. He was a musician, whose skill and talent were further emerging as the years passed.

Fr. Mayo said Sean served in the church as both a lector and an altar server. Last Christmas, he read for one of the Choir’s carol services.

"Sean had a wry sense of humor, and a gentle manner, and while he could be at times irreverent and mocking, he was not mean-spirited or disrespectful of others. His parents and friends have described him as a happy young man who was full of promise and of hope.

"For the past several days we have been confronted with the painful and stark reality of death," said Fr. Mayo. "We are grieving with Jeff and Marge, Sean’s brothers, his extended family, and his good friends. All of these bonds that define and shape our lives as human beings have been seemingly shattered and destroyed forever. Death, it would appear, has dealt a final and irrevocable blow. What sense can be made of our overwhelming grief, suffering and loss in the wake of Thursday afternoon’s tragedy?"

Fr. Mayo said the Cross of Jesus Christ lays before us the challenge. In this teaching death becomes the criterion for how we live our lives – its seeming finality compels us to critically look at how we live and get rid of all that is trivial. It calls us to prioritize that which is most important – love. Love of God, love of neighbor, love of family, love of parents, love of children, love of stranger, and love of enemy.

"Today we commend Sean to the rest promised to him by the Lord," said Fr. Mayo. "We commend Sean to that great resurrection promised to all of the friends of God. And with hope… nothing can separate us from our saving Lord."