She only lived for eight weeks, but baby Kerrie Conway left an indelible mark on her parents’ lives, mourners at her funeral heard yesterday.

Little Kerrie Mae, who was one of Ireland’s first set of sextuplets, lost her brave fight for life in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Yesterday her grief-stricken parents Austin and Nuala joined with family and friends to say a moving farewell to their baby girl.

Around 200 mourners gathered for the emotional service at St Joseph’s Church, which overlooks their native Kildress community in Co Tyrone.

Fighting back tears Nuala and Austin clutched each other for support as they carried the little white coffin containing their baby into the church.

Inside mourners heard the parish priest, Fr Patrick Hughes, describe how Kerrie had now become “one of God’s little angels”.

During the service mementoes from Kerrie’s young life were carried forward by family members.

They included a personalised diary which nurses at the Royal Victoria Hospital had been keeping of her first few weeks.

Fr Hughes recalled reading how she had been a “beautiful, pink baby girl”, with loving eyes and her own, unique personality.

He described the contrasting emotions which the young couple had experienced in the months leading up to the babies’ birth on May 22.

“Over these past seven months, there must have been a roller-coaster of emotions for both of you at different times — when Nuala realised that she was pregnant and then when she was expecting six babies,” he said.

“Obviously there was a certain amount of worry and anxiety and even fear. But after their safe delivery the six babies were progressing nicely and heading towards that one day when they would get home together.”

Despite weighing just under 1.5lb when she was born 14 weeks premature with sisters Ursula, Shannon and Karla and brothers Austin and Eoghan, Fr Hughes said Kerrie had been making the best progress.

“Kerrie was the last to be born, the smallest and yet she thrived the quickest and outpaced the rest,” he added.

“Then every parent’s worst nightmare, their worst fear, was realised. Totally unexpectedly, Kerrie lost her fight for life.

“Kerrie may only have had an earthly life of eight weeks but her memory and her life will be indelibly marked on the hearts of Austin and Nuala and their families, forever.”

Following the service the little white coffin was carried out by her parents to the adjoining cemetery, where Kerrie was laid to rest.