Shaun Brady was remembered fondly during a funeral Mass at St. Mary’s of the Rosary Church in his hometown of Nenagh, Co Tipperary on Saturday, January 4.
Brady was shot and killed outside of his restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri in August. While two juveniles were originally charged in his death, the charges against of one the juveniles have since been dropped.
A notice on RIP.ie on January 1 said that family and friends were invited to attend a funeral mass for Shaun Paul Brady at noon on Saturday, followed by burial of ashes at Lisbunny Nenagh.
During the Mass on Saturday, Fr Pat Gilbert told the congregation that Shaun's "sudden and tragic passing has left an immense void in the lives of those who loved him and the lives of those who knew him."
He continued: "Shaun Paul was a man of remarkable generosity, courage, and devotion, especially to his family, friends, and neighbors.
"This Mass is a time to remember and honor the many ways Shaun Paul touched so many lives with his kindness, his passion for cooking, and his unwavering commitment to those he held dear."
A number of symbols were presented during the Mass which Fr Gilbert said "provide just a little flavor of his rich and good and kind and caring life."
Shaun's Tipperary jersey was presented as a symbol of his pride for his county, hometown, and Irish heritage while Shaun's Kansas City shirt was also presented, representing his adopted home abroad which he "loved."
Shaun's cap, "which became his trademark and his way of displaying his Irishness," was also brought to the altar.
Also presented was Shaun's chef uniform which represented his "passion and skill for cooking."
In an emotional eulogy later in during the Mass, Damien described his brother Shaun as a “loving husband to Katie, a doting father to Seamus and Mary, cherished son to our mother Mary,” as well as a “funny uncle” and “dear friend.”
“Shaun Paul led a full life,” Damien said, recalling how his brother knew from “such a young age” that being a chef would be his vocation.
“Shaun Paul had built a wonderful life for himself and his family in Kansas [City] - a home for their kids.
“He worked tirelessly to establish and run his own restaurant and become a treasured part of the community, something we witnessed ourselves in Kansas [City] when the local community came together to grieve his death and again here today.
“Shaun was so proud to call Nenagh his home. When we visited his restaurant in Kansas [City], the walls were decorated with paintings of local landmarks - the castle, the church, an old painting taken from a book in mam’s house in Summerhill.
“He kept a map of Ireland that hung in our family home and mam had wanted him to have it in his house in Kansas [City].
“He never forgot where he came from.”
Damien said Shaun Paul will be “greatly missed by so many,” but added that he “has left us with so many precious memories.”
Shaun Brady.
The Kansas City Police Department confirmed on August 29 that Shaun Brady was the victim of a shooting the previous evening in Kansas City, Missouri.
Police said that a preliminary investigation revealed Shaun was taking out trash when he observed multiple subjects by a vehicle. An interaction between the victim and subjects occurred that led to the victim being shot.
KCPD said that within an hour of the incident, two juvenile male teen subjects were taken into custody pending further investigation in regard to the case.
The vehicle used in the crime was also recovered. The subjects were taken into custody and the vehicle was found a short distance away in Midtown.
KCPD said that the incident was being investigated as a homicide.
Both of the juveniles were charged on August 30.
Shaun opened his restaurant Brady's KC in the Brookside area of Kansas City in 2022. Ahead of his restaurant's opening, Shaun spoke with IrishCentral, where he was emphatic that his restaurant was Irish American, not just Irish.
A popular figure within the local Irish American community, Brady was a fixture at the Kansas City Irish Fest. The 2024 event, which was hosted just days after his tragic death, featured a special Mass in his memory.
The Board of Directors of the Kansas City Irish Fest also launched a memorial GoFundMe to benefit Shaun's wife and their two young children. The fund, which is no longer taking donations, has received more than $191k.
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