"There are pains that do not healf that we carry with us for the rest of our lives. This is one of those pains, " Fr Fergal Mac Eoinin said in his funeral sermon.

"As people move quietly back into their daily routines, the fact remains that some lives are shattered, innocence has been crushed and hope can seem so far away."

Fr Mac Eoinin prayed for the O'Regans' surviving children Cian, 10, Brianna, 7, and Aaron, 5, . . . that they "will survive this tragedy" and "live above the horror".

The children's parents, both aged 32, perished in the blaze that gutted their two storey semi-detached home in the Ballybeg estate early on Tuesday morning.

Their baby sister was taken by ambulance to Waterford Regional Hospital where she died a short time later.

The family had lived in the same house in Ballybeg for 13 years and were due to move to a new home in Portlaw a month from now.

Just hours before the family was torn apart by the fire, they had all enjoyed a day together at a local beach in Annestown.

Many of the family's neighbours who desperately tried to save them from the blaze were among the 2,000-strong crowd at the removal service on Thursday evening, where the sight of the two adult coffins accompanied by baby Niamh's tiny white coffin brought tears to many eyes. Johanna's heartbroken mother Mary wept and said: "Why didn't they take me?"

On Friday, well over 1,000 people made private visits to the church to pay silent, prayerful respect to Bryan, Johanna and Niamh. Speaking from her home, Bryan's mother Joan said: "People here have been very good and kind and we really do appreciate all that they have done to support us at this difficult time."

Johanna's mother Mary said: "The last few days here have been very, very difficult and hard, we still have to worry about the children and the years ahead, we are so lucky to have such kind friends and neighbours to help us."

Letters of condolence from President McAleese and people all over the country have been delivered to the family as they try to come to terms with the triple tragedy.

The Mayor of Waterford, Hilary Quinlan, will launch a fund for the surviving children's futures in Waterford City Hall tomorrow morning at 11am. A bank account has been opened in the Bank of Ireland, Lisduggan, Waterford: the sort code is 906216 and the account number is 40559976; the account name is O'Regan Children Fund.