Ann Maguire's coffin is carried from the Catholic church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary after her funeral mass in Leeds, on May 16
THE HUSBAND of Ann Maguire paid a touching tribute to his wife’s “passion” for teaching as she was laid to rest last week.
Hundreds gathered on Friday for an emotional mass to remember Mrs Maguire, 61, who died after being attacked during a Spanish lesson at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds last month.
A post mortem confirmed this week that the mother-of-two, whose parents came from Co. Mayo, died from “shock and haemorrhage” after being stabbed in the neck.
Arriving at his wife’s funeral on Friday with their two daughters, Irishman Don Maguire paid a heart-rending tribute to the woman he once taught alongside at Corpus Christi.
"Ann loved teaching,” the Cavan native said in a eulogy that drew tears from the congregation inside the Immaculate Heart of Mary church in Leeds.
"A dream as a very young child, an ambition in teenage years, a fulfilling reality for 40 years. Spanish was her subject. The pace and rhythm of modern language teaching suited her so well.
“Being head of fifth form, a great passion, because this is where the range of her personal qualities and abilities was fully exercised.
“But, in true humility, she always stressed that she learned so much from others."
The Maguire family also used the service to express their “deep gratitude” to the outpouring of emotion from the public following Mrs Maguire’s tragic death.
The Pope and Prime Minister were among the thousands who paid tribute to a teacher known as “the mother of Corpus Christi”.
She was said to have changed lives at the secondary school, which was surrounded by flowers within hours of her tragic death.
Mrs Maguire had taught at Corpus Christi for 40 years and was due to retire in September.
Her widowed husband was supported at the funeral mass by their daughters, Emma, 31, and Kerry, 32, as well as two nephews Mrs Maguire raised as if they were her own children after her sister Eileen died from cancer in 1986.
They have established the Ann Maguire Educational Fund, which will provide bursaries and support for the 'enhancement and personal development' of young people through music, drama, language and dance.
A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with Mrs Maguire’s murder and is in custody. He is expected to stand trial in November.
