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Sunlight beamed through the stained glass of a Catholic church in Ireland where the silver coffin carrying Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra was carried down the center aisle Wednesday morning.
Her mother, Elma Nolan, her sister Jacqui, boyfriend Nick, her grandparents, siblings and extended family followed close behind, joined by other mourners who had traveled from both sides of the Atlantic to say goodbye to a young woman who moved to New York 10 years ago to follow her dream.
The 10 a.m. funeral service was held at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Carlow, the town where Nolan-O’Slatarra grew up before taking the leap across the Atlantic to pursue a career in fashion.
On Wednesday, the 33-year-old entrepreneur who co-founded the swimwear and resort-wear brand East x East was finally laid to rest, more than two weeks after she was found unresponsive and pronounced dead aboard a boat at the Montauk Yacht Club just after midnight on Aug. 5.
As the Mass began, family and friends carried seven symbolic items to the altar, each capturing a facet of Nolan’s life: her passport, for her love of travel and adventure; a tin whistle, representing her passion for music; an Irish and an American flag, representing the two worlds she called home; a makeup bag and brushes, reflecting her devotion to fashion and beauty; a photo that showed her radiance; a prayer to St. Martha, recited weekly by her mother; and a piece from her own East x East brand, a symbol of her creativity and ambition.
The priest referred to them as symbols of a short, “but packed” life.
In his homily, the priest reminded the congregation that God is “close to the brokenhearted,” assuring them that Martha’s name is “carved upon the palm of God’s hand.”
He urged those grieving to take comfort in the promise that she now rests in eternal love, her bond with them continuing through faith and prayer.
Nolan-O’Slatarra would light up the room
The most heartfelt moments came when Nick DiRubio, her partner, and her sister Jacqui Nolan, spoke at the altar through tears.
“Martha had a special way of lighting up every room she walked into,” Nick said, recalling Nolan-O’Slatarra’s signature greetings and unmistakable presence.
“She had a way of putting people she loved first. She loved helping people … whether it was telling you to cop on and focus on the good in this life, or just being a shoulder to lean on,” he continued. “The shining light that Martha brought into this world is a reflection of everybody in this room.”
Jacqui Nolan described her sister as a lifelong confidante.
“Martha, my beautiful sister. You taught me everything I needed to know in life. I didn’t always see you, but I always knew you were there,” she said. “Growing up with you was like having a built-in best friend. From sharing secrets to late night talks, we’ve been through it all together through thick and thin.
“The bond between us sisters is unique and unbreakable,” she continued. “You will be in my heart forever, Martha.”
The service closed with the Irish farewell ballad “The Parting Glass.” Tears filled the church as Nolan-O’Slatarra’s coffin was carried out, her family walking behind in silence, huddled closely to one another.
She was later laid to rest at nearby St. Mary’s Cemetery in Carlow.
International interest in the death of Nolan-O’Slatarra
Nolan-O’Slatarra’s sudden death has drawn international attention. She was discovered unconscious aboard the a SeaRay vessel Ripple docked in Montauk, according to Suffolk County police. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.
An initial autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, but the cause of death remains undetermined pending toxicology results.
Suffolk County’s interagency East End Drug Task Force is exploring whether drugs played a role in her sudden passing. The New York Post reported this week that investigators are probing whether “designer drugs” played a role in the swimwear designer’s mysterious.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney told the publication that it is important for the ongoing toxicology study to be thorough.
“In our society right now, the way we’ve evolved with these designer drugs, all these substances that are created in a lab, you want to be extra careful that whatever testing you’ve done is comprehensive and complete before you` make any findings in the case,” Tierney said in the report.
Nolan-O’Slatarra’s family, meanwhile, has urged patience, expressing frustration at premature speculation and stressing their wish for a thorough and careful inquiry.
Their attorney has said they will pursue every avenue to learn what happened that night.
Top photo: A funeral was held Wednesday in Ireland for Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra (video still courtesy of Carlow Cathedral of the Assumption).
