MOURNERS at the funeral of Brookeborough man Kenneth Andrews who died unexpectedly last week were told that the 47-year-old had been fighting a private battle with depression.

Mr. Andrews from the Cavanagarvan area suffered “terrible darkness” and it was the illness that ultimately “took” his life, said Reverend Peter McIntyre at the father-of-four’s funeral on Saturday at Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church.

“Just as cancer takes one, heart disease another, an accident another – depression caused Kenny’s death,” said Reverend McIntyre, appealing to those in attendance to create a confidence “whereby our friends will not feel ashamed of their illness”.

He told the 700-strong congregation: “Don’t let anyone here judge Kenny for the manner of his death – I have not walked in Kenny’s shoes, I have not experienced Kenny’s darkness of mind, I have not felt as Kenny felt – therefore I will not speak harshly of my brother in any way.” Mr. Andrews is survived by his wife, Joy, sons Stephen, Jonathan, Peter and Philip, father Richie and brother Leslie. Reverend McIntyre described the sales representative for John Thompson and Sons Ltd and an egg producer for Moy Park as “a family man, a working man, a friendly man, an amusing man and a Christian man” who had “so much more to offer and to give”.

And he told mourners about Mr Andrews’ battle with depression.

“Brother Kenny, however, was also a suffering man. His pain was not physical but psychological. His illness could not be observed by others as we might observe the toll that other sicknesses exact upon the body. Since he was teenager Kenny suffered at times from depression. After a serious attack some 15 years ago the symptoms had been controlled largely by medication. But since Christmas his depression reemerged with terrible, dark suicidal thoughts.

“It was Kenny’s wish that no-one should know. Yes, he sought medical help and he believed that as he had battled with this illness before he would battle through again. But on Wednesday morning the battle was lost and we are left with the tragedy which is before us today. I want you to understand. Joy and the family wants you to appreciate this. Kenny was a sick man.” Reverend McIntyre continued: “Unseen by all of us he was suffering a terrible darkness. Here was this man – externally happy, jolly, friendly, a loving husband, father, son brother, uncle – but inwardly he was inflicted with this illness. This disease. And let us call what Kenny experienced an illness. It was not an illness that he could do anything about. He tried. Oh he tried to fight it.” He then challenged attitudes within society to those who have mental health issues.

“What about our capacity as a society and a community to deal with depression and other psychiatric illnesses. How sympathetic are we? How understanding are we? How caring are we? Kenny was ashamed of his illness; therefore he did not want to talk to his friends openly. That would not generally be the case with one who suffers other kinds of illness. Yet there remains a stigma where those who suffer as Kenny suffered are concerned. Let us change our attitudes today. Kenny suffered and he never once gave it away. How many more suffer? People that I know. People in our community. Friends, family, neighbours. Let us create that confidence whereby our friends will not feel ashamed of their illness,” he said.

Mr. Andrews “gave his life to Jesus Christ when only a boy”, said Reverend McIntyre and that was as a result of children’s meetings at Tresnagh, Tempo, which were organised by the late Edna Weir.

“Indeed the loss is most poignant for the session, committee and congregation of Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church as the deceased had been a member of the Church committee since 1999. He was both the secretary of the Church committee and the management committee of Clogher Valley Independent Christian School,” he said.

According to Reverend McIntyre, this is not the first occasion that the Andrews family has experienced tragedy. In 1974, Mr. Andrews’ older brother David of Tattykeeran, Tempo, who was then 11-years-old, was killed in a tractor accident.

Reverend McIntyre went on to address a question which he said was “on many hearts”.

“How is it that such a fine Christian man could suffer as Kenny suffered?” he asked, admitting that the question was “imponderable” and referring to the world as a “broken place” and humanity as a “suffering race”.

Speaking afterwards, he again appealed to all “who walk a similar desperate and lonely path” to share their pain with the promise: “There will be those who will be here for you at this time”.

Reverend McIntyre said that Mr. Andrews was now in heaven “because he had trusted Christ as Saviour” and made reference to “the love of God to suffering men and women being unconditional”.

“You see – we are all on a journey through life – we are a little behind Kenny. Just a little. This dying experience is coming for us all. Suffering is just around the corner of life. I pray that you will be spared the mental anguish that Kenny experienced but there will be physical suffering. There will be darkness coming in this world for us all,” he said.

Also participating in the funeral service were Reverend John Gray (Bethel FPC, Enniskillen) and David Priestly (Bangor FPC and former pastor in Clogher Valley).

Reverend McIntyre finished by saying that Mrs. Andrews widow Joy and the family wish to thank all who expressed sympathy at their home and in attending the funeral.

“She has been overwhelmed by the prayerful and practical support she has received from so many people,” he said.

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