James McKinstry (2 Feb 1956 - 27 Aug 2019)

McKINSTRY JAMES Died 27th August 2019 Beloved husband of Anna, much loved father of Matthew and Kim, loving father in law of Sharon and Simon and devoted grandfather of Hannah, Luke, Lottie and Jessica. Funeral service to be held on Saturday 31st at Roselawn Crematorium at 10.30am. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu to Friends of the Cancer Centre c/o Stephen McCosh Funeral Directors, 117 Shankill Road, Belfast. BT13 1FD or online stephenmccoshfuneraldirectors.co.uk. To know him was to love him.

Death is a strange thing....it’s happening around us everyday. Yet sometimes it’s distant, it’s someone we don’t really know. We are saddened for a moment & for the family. Then in a fleeting moment it’s gone. Other times it’s plays on longer in our minds for those families.

But when it’s someone you love so dearly, it’s a very profound feeling indeed. While obviously heartbroken, a numb feeling has descended. Maybe it’s because we knew he couldn’t stay any longer. Maybe it’s because we were so intensely there with him until the end & the fog hasn’t quite lifted.

He fought it in the end a little longer than we could endure, but equally not long enough, as we needed him some more.

To say we’re proud be his family doesn’t even come close to being sufficient enough a tribute. A part of each of us will now never feel complete. But we are equipped with his passed on skills & knowledge...& his influence that we will take with us & use through time.

An easy going person, a quiet man, not much of a talker & often didn’t show too much emotion or give too much of a strong opinion. A well thought of man with which we all knew exactly where we stood in his eyes. He was proud of his family & all that we achieved.

So we will go on from here & toast the life of a great man. A husband. A dad. A granda...brother, uncle, friend. A unique man.