Denise Morgan, the 39-year-old Irish mother killed in an apparent murder-suicide in New York City on October 21, is set to be repatriated to Ireland after an outpouring of support from communities in both the US and Ireland.
Denise's sister Lisa confirmed in a public social media post on Wednesday that the 'Help bring Denise Morgan home to Ireland' GoFundMe has been closed after hitting its target three times, ending with a total of £31,201.
However, Lisa said two other US-based GoFundMe pages remain open. The 'In memory of Denise Morgan' GoFundMe will benefit Denise's young daughter, while the 'Denise Morgan Fund' aims to "help the family bring her home to Ireland" and provide "financial assistance for her daughter. "
“Thank you all again,” Lisa Morgan wrote, “we’re bringing our girl home.”
Meanwhile, one of Denise's friends said in a public social media post on Wednesday that a memorial service will be held this Sunday, October 29 at St. Theresa Church in Queens. Refreshments will follow at Donovan’s Pub.
“She put the sunny in Sunnyside,” Denise's friend wrote. “Let us come together in the wake of this nightmare and celebrate the beautiful woman and the light and love that will forever be Denise Morgan.”
Denise's parents and sisters arrived in New York on Tuesday night and were set to be in touch with the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, to which they are directing donations via a notice on RIP.ie.
As of Friday evening, funeral arrangements for Denise Morgan had yet to be announced.
A spokesperson for the NYPD confirmed to IrishCentral that just before 3 am on Saturday, October 21, police responded to a 911 call of shots fired / persons inside at a residence in the Glendale section of Queens in the confines of the 104 Precinct.
Upon arrival, officers observed two persons - later confirmed as Morgan and Joed Taveras - unconscious and unresponsive with gunshot wounds to their heads, within the second-floor living room area of the residence.
EMS responded to the location and pronounced the 39-year-old female and the 33-year-old male deceased at the scene.
A firearm was recovered in the vicinity of the deceased male.
An NYPD source later told the New York Post that Denise and Joed were apparently boyfriend and girlfriend and lived together in the apartment.
The New York Daily News reported that Denise had dropped her daughter Mollie off at her ex-husband's home the night before her death. Denise's friends and colleagues said that the Irish woman planned to leave her boyfriend and that her living situation was not good.
Tributes to Denise, a native of Lavin Park, Tullyallen, Co Louth who had been living in New York for about five years, were swift and widespread.
Denise's sister Shannon wrote on social media: "In the blink of an eye our world has broken and we are absolutely crushed. My beautiful sister has been taken from my life by such a heinous cowardly act. We will never get justice for this."
Denise's other sister Lisa wrote in part: "We love you forever and always baby sister until we meet again, our lives will never be the same again."
The Cottage Bar and Restaurant in Queens, where Denise worked, said: "The sudden loss of Denise Morgan has left us all in shock and sorrow. It is incredibly difficult to comprehend the void left by her sudden departure. Her warmth, kindness, and vibrant spirit will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
"Our heartfelt condolences are for her family as you mourn this profound loss. We will always appreciate the person she was."
In Ireland, parish priest Fr Seán Dooley told The Irish Examiner on Tuesday: “Her family were at Mass on Sunday; it is simply shocking and very very distressing.
“We remembered her at Mass on Sunday and again this morning.
“People are distressed. I’m very glad to see so many people rally around the family, it is a very sad time for them."
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