The Downton Abbey star, Michelle Dockery rushed from the U.S. to Ireland last week to be with her Fiance John Dineen before he died Sunday, December 13 after battling a rare form of cancer.
Michelle has led hundreds of mourners at a private service on Wednesday, December 16, held at the Church of St James in the village of Ballinora, County Cork, close to the farm where John Dineen grew up.
Dineen, a public relations director, had been working with the FTI Consulting firm in London when he was diagnosed with the illness.
Michelle, who turned 34, on December 15, is understood to have flown from the US on Thursday, December 16, to spend their final days together.
“When ‘Downton’ first became [successful]. I was so overwhelmed and found it hard to adjust to being recognized and having my private life in the spotlight," Michelle shared with Red magazine.
“I’ve got people around me who I can turn to for advice: my mum, and my partner, John.” she added.
The funeral, which happened to fall the day after Dockery’s 34th birthday and a day before what would have been Dineen’s 35th birthday.
She also sang her late fiancé’s favorite song, “The Folks Who Live on the Hill,” the 1937 standard with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein.
The actress - who plays widowed Lady Mary Crawley in the period drama - broke off from a promotional tour to be with him in his final hours. She has thanked fans for their 'support and kindness'.
The couple were introduced by Downton co-star Allen Leech in 2013 and were seen smiling and kissing during a romantic holiday at the Venice Film Festival later that year.
They again made headlines earlier this year when it was reported that Dockery was showing off a diamond ring to her co-stars during screen tests.
But the couple guarded their privacy closely with the actress only briefly referencing the love of her life in an interview over a year ago where she said she had a "wonderful man in my life from Ireland".
