Stephen Gately was a "wonderful, beautiful son".
The late singer's mother Margaret Gately paid tribute to her "amazing" son last night (17.10.09) at his wake at Dublin's Four Seasons hotel, following his emotional funeral. The mother-of-five spoke of her pride for the Boyzone star, who died at his Majorca home, in Spain, last weekend aged just 33. She told Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper: "He was a wonderful son - nobody can understand how proud I am of him. A wonderful, beautiful son. Today was a testament to Stephen that he's made an impression on the world and he won't be forgotten. He would have been deeply proud of the turn-out on the streets where he grew up. I hope I brought him up properly and people can realise how amazing he actually was. "His sexuality wasn't a big deal. I knew he was gay and it wasn't a problem. I loved him no matter what."
Stephen had been holidaying on the Spanish island with his civil partner Andy Cowles - who he wed in a civil ceremony in 2006 - when he died. Grieving Margaret has vowed to "be there" for her son's devastated widower and says she will treat Andy like a son. She explained: "I'm going to love Andy and be there for him. He's one of the family - Stephen loved him with all his heart and he made my son happy. I asked Stephen when they got together if it was love and he said it was more than anything he'd ever found. He was besotted."
Margaret - who was comforted yesterday by husband Martin - and Andy chose to dress Stephen's body in a classic black suit, white shirt and black tie. He was also wearing his favorite custom-made red Nike trainers, which had his nickname 'Steo' inscribed on one shoe and 'Gately' on the other. Stephen's Boyzone bandmates, Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch, Keith Duffy and Mikey Graham, wore matching suits adorned with a red accessory when they were pallbearers. After the funeral service at the St Laurence O'Toole Church in Dublin, Ireland, close friends and family travelled to the Glasnevin Cemetery for a private cremation.
The late singer's mother Margaret Gately paid tribute to her "amazing" son last night (17.10.09) at his wake at Dublin's Four Seasons hotel, following his emotional funeral. The mother-of-five spoke of her pride for the Boyzone star, who died at his Majorca home, in Spain, last weekend aged just 33. She told Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper: "He was a wonderful son - nobody can understand how proud I am of him. A wonderful, beautiful son. Today was a testament to Stephen that he's made an impression on the world and he won't be forgotten. He would have been deeply proud of the turn-out on the streets where he grew up. I hope I brought him up properly and people can realise how amazing he actually was. "His sexuality wasn't a big deal. I knew he was gay and it wasn't a problem. I loved him no matter what."
Stephen had been holidaying on the Spanish island with his civil partner Andy Cowles - who he wed in a civil ceremony in 2006 - when he died. Grieving Margaret has vowed to "be there" for her son's devastated widower and says she will treat Andy like a son. She explained: "I'm going to love Andy and be there for him. He's one of the family - Stephen loved him with all his heart and he made my son happy. I asked Stephen when they got together if it was love and he said it was more than anything he'd ever found. He was besotted."
Margaret - who was comforted yesterday by husband Martin - and Andy chose to dress Stephen's body in a classic black suit, white shirt and black tie. He was also wearing his favorite custom-made red Nike trainers, which had his nickname 'Steo' inscribed on one shoe and 'Gately' on the other. Stephen's Boyzone bandmates, Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch, Keith Duffy and Mikey Graham, wore matching suits adorned with a red accessory when they were pallbearers. After the funeral service at the St Laurence O'Toole Church in Dublin, Ireland, close friends and family travelled to the Glasnevin Cemetery for a private cremation.
