The 29-year-old’s family issued a special request for mourners attending on Wednesday
14:15, 09 Nov 2025Updated 14:19, 09 Nov 2025
A ‘vibrant, kind and hardworking’ young Irish woman who passed away suddenly in Australia last month will be laid to rest in her native Kerry, after a repatriation fundraiser took in more than €80,000.
Serena Downey, 29, from Feale Drive in Listowel, Co Kerry, tragically died suddenly on Monday, October 20, in Perth, leaving her family back home in Ireland devastated. Serena had moved to Australia in 2020 and worked as a plant operator at a mining site in the Mid West. She regularly shared videos of her day-to-day life working in the mines on TikTok, where she amassed more than 21,000 followers.
Following the tragic news of her death, Serena’s family and friends came together to launch a fundraising campaign to bring the young Irishwoman home and return her belongings to her loved ones in Ireland. There was a huge outpouring of support from the public, with the GoFundMe page raising more than $148,000 AUD (€83,642).
Serena Downey will be laid to rest in her native Kerry on Wednesday
Serena’s family travelled to Perth last week to attend a funeral service for the young Irishwoman in her adopted home of Perth, before she was then repatriated to Ireland, the Irish Mirror reports.
The family have now confirmed that Serena’s funeral will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Listowel on Wednesday (November 11), with interment afterwards in St. John Paul II Cemetery, Ballybunion Road, Listowel. A death notice shared on RIP.ie states: “It is with deep sadness we announce the unexpected passing of our beautiful Serena Downey, aged 29, in Perth, Australia, on October 20th, late of 86 Feale Drive, Listowel, Co. Kerry.
“Serena was vibrant, kind, hardworking and loved by all who knew her. Her infectious laugh, courage and her positive attitude will be forever missed. Serena is the beloved daughter of Helen McDonald and the late Dino Downey, stepdaughter of Martin McDonald and cherished sister of Raymond, Jane, Ally, Anthony and Nico.
Serena had been living in Australia since 2020
“Serena will be sadly missed by her loving grandfather Michael, her godparents Jack and Sarah, aunts Caroline, Mary, Michelle and Linda, uncles Jack, William, Mickey and Kevin, her only nephew Callum, her closely bonded cousins, extended family, neighbours and friends from Ireland, New York (Kayleigh Maxwell) and her very large circle of friends in Australia.”
Serena’s family have asked mourners attending her funeral on Wednesday to wear a pink flower “to honour the memory of Serena and her colourful life”.
Serena’s family learned of tragic death on the Tuesday morning after her death, with her mother Helen paying an emotional tribute to her daughter in a message shared on social media: “Sleep tight my beautiful baby. I’ll miss you forever Serena. I can’t believe I’ll never hear your lovely voice again. Never once hung up the phone without saying love you.”