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OUR STORY
A LOVE THAT TRAVELLED THE WORLD AND LASTED A LIFETIME
This more than our love story.
It's a story of friendship, adventure, facing life's hardest moments together and choosing each other - every single day.
July 2013 - On a staff night out to check out the band for consideration for our x-mas party. I first saw Russell playing with Dead Ringer at The Orchard, Stillorgan.
As he walked across the room, I turned to my colleagues and said, "Who's He?, " Him There!, he is my future husband, he just doesn't know it yet.
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
We never even spoke that night but something inside me knew.
A SECOND ENCOUNTER - The two piece at Walter's
Due to work commitments I was working in South Africa and following a return trip home in October 2013, I got to see him again, this time performing with Shay Murphy at Walter's. Another great staff night out. After the gig he came and sat beside me and, for perhaps the first time in my life, I had absolutely nothing to say.
My COO, pictured on stage with Shay & Russell, looked over and said "Cat got your tongue, Jena?" - everyone erupted in laughter.
That night Russell dropped me home. The feeling I had in July grew stronger, I knew for sure in my mind, he was my future husband. But unfortunately I was due to travel a few days later back to South Africa until Christmas.
JANUARY 2014 - Life gave us a reason to meet.
The company hired Dead Ringer for our annual party's main live band, and two piece (Shay & Russell) for the pre-drinks. Russell was being smiled at and people came up to say hello. To all my work colleagues, this was my future husband, he just didn't know it yet,
The party was a huge success. The CEO wanted them to play in South Africa for March St. Patrick's Day Party. Somewhere between those conversations and a coffee back in Ireland, a friendship began. That friendship became something far greater.
From that day forward, we were inseparable.
OFFICIALLY US
On 6th of February 2014, Russell and I became "us" Somewhere between all the conversations, the phone calls, the miles between Ireland and South Africa and countless cups of coffee, friendship had quietly become something more. That day we officially became an item. Neither of us knew where life would take us, but from that point on we faced it together.
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Music that connected our souls.
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Laughter that got us through everything.
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Photography that captured our world.
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Family and friends who became ours.
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Everyday moments that meant everything.
We built a life filled with love, fun, late nights and a million little memories.
WE BUILT A LIFE
We never stood still for very long. Music may have been Russell's first love, but travel became one of ours. Together we explored the world.
5. ADVENTURES TOGETHER
In February 2021 ,Russell asked me to marry him. He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Without hesitation, I said Yes. We were planning a future filled with more adventures, more laughter and more love.
The ring he chose carried its own story.
Years earlier, while in South Africa, i had fallen in love with tanzanite. Its deep violet-blue colour captivated me. Russell surprised me with my first tanzanite ring. He never forgot how much I loved it.
So when he asked me to marry him, he didn't choose a traditional diamond. He chose a tanzanite engagement ring. Tanzanite is considered even rarer than diamonds, making it beautfiul symbole of a love that was unique to use.
Every time I look at that ring. I am reminded not only of the day he proposed, but of South Africa, our adventures together, and the live we were building side by side.
6. A PROMISE
Life tested us more than once, but we never faced anything alone.
2014 - Malaria and Schistosomiasis
He never left my side.
2016 - A severe head injury and short term memory loss.
We rebuilt, step by step, together
2023 - A shattered ankle & 10 weeks in rehabilitation.
He was my rock every day, came to visit me, encouraged me, celebrated every small victory and helped me rebuild my strength. We joined the gym together so I could continue my recovery with physio.
2025 - Cancer
Our hardest battle.
Our love never wavered.
7. THROUGH LIFE'S CHALLENGES
Through every challenge, our love only grew stronger.
WE BELIEVED IN EACH OTHER
Time and time again. Russell showed me what unconditional love truly looks like.
When life knocked me down, he was the hand that helped me back up.
Kind, Steady, Loyal.
The person who stayed.
Those years gave me a gift I didn't fully understand at the time.
When Russell became ill, it would be my turn.
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THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE.
On the 30th of September 2025, Russell was diagnosed with stage 4 Kidney Cancer.
There was a plan, a solution, a treatment and we were hopeful. Following surgical complications, Russell was put on life support and kidney dialysis for 3 days. The joy I felt day three walking into ICU, finally seeing him sitting there, his eyes lit up when I walked in, happy and positive. He was fighting.
On 18th November Russell was rushed back to hospital, the news was not good. He was being treated for an infection, the oncology team took him under their wing and shortly after he was moved to the Oncology ward. I went and bought him a duvet to make him more comfortable, there I stayed by his side day and night taking care of him, loving him, supporting him.
We laughed, We cried
We prayed, We hoped.
5th December 2025
5th December the medical team told us the treatment was not working. Time was running out. At 10.30am that morning Russell looked at me and said "Hun its time, press the red button" - he wanted to be married.
We called our angel, Sandra Shortt, who made the impossible possible. Brian Lynch arrived at the hospital. Nurses and family transformed our hospital room into a wedding venue.
Surrounded by the people we loved most, we became husband and wife.
OUR WEDDING - Still Russell
Brian apologised for wearing jeans, Russell was in a t-shirt and his underpants, Neither seemed too concerned. If anything Russell was delighted.
Here was a man who had spent his life on stage, dressed like a rock star, standing in front of hundred of people. Yet on an important day in his life he married the love of his life wearing a t-shirt and his underpants ,
Only Russell could do that and somehow still look like a rock god.
He Laughed.
He smiled
He danced - yes he did the Beyonce Single Ladies move, put a ring on it, when it came to my vows and placing my ring on his finger.
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In a room filled with tears, fears and heartbreak , he still managed to make everyone laugh. - That was Russell
OUR FINAL SUNRISE
Monday 8th December - from Russell's bedside, we watched our final sunrise together.
We didn't know it then,
but this beautiful sunrise would be our last.
After weeks in that hospital room, every sunrise and sunset had become part of our world.
The morning of the 9th December began with a good morning Mrs Taylor - Russell seemed very tired. He was worried and said, "hun, i think I'm going to be in a wheelchair, I can't feel my legs.". I reassured him it was just from laying down too long. I called the nurse and began massaging his feet and legs.
As the hours passed, he grew quieter and sleepier.
I stayed beside him, holding his hand, talking to him, loving him.
At 6.30pm on the 9th of December 2025, surrounded by love,
Russell took his final breath.
I kissed his forehead and whispered,
"Wait for me by the lake, I'll meet you there soon my love, "
I told him I loved him.
His mouth formed the words "I love you" one final time.
And then he was gone.
UNTIL THE END
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