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‘Downton Abbey’s’ Michelle Dockery Mourns Fiancé In Ireland

By Amy Feinstein
Published on: 12:31 PST, Dec 16, 2015

Michelle Dockery, the brunette beauty who stars as Lady Mary in Downton Abbey has traveled to Ireland for the funeral of her fiancé, John Dineen, after he lost his battle with cancer this week. Dineen way laid to rest today at St. James Church in Ballinora, County Cork, in Ireland.

This loss is especially sad for Dockery, as her time on Downton Abbey has just come to an end after a five year whirlwind, according to the Inquisitr. The whole cast, upstairs and downstairs, bid a tearful farewell to the Crawley family and their staff, in addition to the ancestral castle where they shot the PBS/ITV series. Dockery made her mark on the small screen with this costume drama, and became a standout as the aristocratic Lady Mary Crawley, the oldest of the Crawley sisters, whose son, Master George, will one day become Lord Grantham.

Us Weekly Magazine is reporting that a funeral mass is being held today in Dineen’s honor, attended by Dockery and the rest of Dineen’s family.

“‘Dineen’s family has been grappling with deep loss since his death in a hospice,’ the family’s priest, Friar Declan Mansfield, told the Belfast Telegraph on Wednesday. The private service was held three days after Dineen passed away on Sunday, December 13, at the Marymount Hospice in Cork.”

“The family is very grateful for the support and kindness they have received,” her rep said. “But would kindly request that they are left to grieve in private.”

The couple was introduced by Allen Leech, who plays Tom Branson on Downton Abbey.

“Dineen lived in London but returned to his native Ireland in early 2015 to be with his family after he was diagnosed with cancer. Days before his death, Dockery flew to Ireland from America to be by his side. She marked her 34th birthday on Tuesday.”

Vanity Fair says that Michelle Dockery spoke and sang at Dineen’s funeral.

“Whether in his work or his personal life John was extremely loyal,” Dockery told mourners gathered at St. James’s Church on Wednesday, according to The Irish Independent. “It was clear that when John was in your corner he was there. I was honored to know John. To love him and be loved by him. He was my friend, my King, my hero, my everything. We celebrate him, we honor him and we will miss him.”

She sang the song “The Folks Who Live On the Hill” by Oscar Hammerstein, which was Dineen’s favorite song. Though Dockery was very mum about her private life, she did publicly acknowledge that their relationship had become serious. Beforehand, Dockery reportedly shared that she was uncertain about singing but Dineen’s father was “just as persuasive as his son.”

“I have a wonderful man in my life from Ireland. We were introduced by Allen Leech. That’s all you need to know.”

Dockery had cut a visit to the United States short to be with Dineen in his decline.

“Just last week, Dockery was in the United States promoting the final season of ‘Downton Abbey.’ Late last week, though, Dockery is said to have cut her promotional tour short to be with Dineen and his family during his final hours at Marymount Hospice.”

Do you wish Michelle Dockery well during her time of mourning?

[Photo courtesy of Jonathan Short/AP]

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