Friends and family paid tribute to her and recalled her humour, her love of travel and her passion for writing. A large crowd descended on Mount Jerome in Harold's Cross, Dublin to pay their respects to Roberta. According to her wishes, a non-religious ceremony was conducted, with readings from family members and friends.

A tribute from Roberta's parents, Caroline and Patrick, recalled her talents as a writer and her ability to inject a sense of fun into other people's lives.

The tribute, which was read out by Derek West, recalled how they could only stand back in amazement as Roberta's career went from strength to strength.

Caroline and Patrick talked of Roberta's struggle with depression, a struggle which she had fought bravely for several years but which had worsened over recent months.

They recalled their last Christmas spent with their daughter and referred to her "brave, determined and lonely journey out of life."

Roberta had one sibling, her brother Nicholas, to whom she was very close. Their parents recalled how the pair had been more like two friends than a brother and sister, often throwing joint parties for their friends in the family home.

Members of the media, including a large number of Sunday Tribune staff, joined with family and friends in remembering Roberta. Aside from her various roles within the Tribune, including a stint writing the popular 'This Dating Life' column, Roberta was a regular contributor to several arts publications and programmes.

A message from Roberta's godmother, Christina Davis, was read out by her aunt, Veronica Soell. Davis, who lives in Texas, recalled Roberta as a young child. Roberta's love of travel could be seen by the number of friendships she maintained in countries across Europe, America and Australia.

Davis remembered the last postcard she had received from Roberta, which was sent from Greece a number of months ago.

Sabrina Coyle, Leeanne O'Donnell, Emma McKinley and Rebecca Milne, who had all been friends with Roberta for several years, recalled her friendship and read out extracts from several of her columns. Although it was not easy to laugh during the service, they noted, it was important to remember how important humour was to Roberta.

Roberta's grandmother, Margaret Thompson, gave a reading from Corinthians, while a poem to Roberta by Coral Atkinson, a friend from New Zealand, was read to the crowd by Rose Mary Logue.

Two Beatles' songs, Here Comes The Sun and Blackbird, were also played.

Roberta was born in Dublin and attended Taney National School in Dundrum. She later attended St Columba's secondary school, where her father is a teacher, before entering Trinity College. After graduating from Trinity, Roberta spent a period of time travelling, spending a year in Australia with friends before moving on to New Zealand for six months.

It was during her time abroad that she discovered her talent for writing and upon her return Roberta enrolled in Dublin City University to study a Masters Degree in Journalism. Upon completion of her studies, Roberta was hired by the Sunday Tribune, where she wrote primarily for the magazine.

Roberta wrote mostly on issues relating to the arts, although her many columns showed her ability as a humorous writer.

Roberta will be remembered by friends, family and colleagues alike as a lively character, whose undeniable talent was tragically cut short.

Presiding over the ceremony, Dick Spicer referred to Roberta as "a dynamic person who leaves a trail of colour behind her."

It was a description with which we would all agree.