Australian Sportswoman Jacinda Barclay Passed Away at 29 — Glimpse inside Her Funeral Ceremony

On October 12, 2020, Jacinda Barclay sadly died by suicide before she even turned 30. Her funeral was held in Perth, Australia at a ceremony that was attended by hundreds of mourners.

Jacinda Barclay, an Australian sporting star, passed away in the middle of this month from suicide. She was a multi-talented athlete who played Aussie Rules, American football, and baseball.

The star, who was 29 when she died, had also had a chance to represent her home country in sports. Her funeral was held on Sunday and it was attended by her family, friends, and fans who supported and loved her.

According to “Daily Mail,” Barclay’s funeral was attended by around six hundred people. People who came to bid her farewell included other athletes, Maori and Aboriginal elders, and artists.

The late star’s Australian baseball shirt was draped over her coffin to honor her role as an athlete. Her service was an outdoor one and it was hosted at the Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park, in Perth.

The star’s family paid tribute to her with a three-meter high photo collage. One of the images on it showed her wearing an orange sports jersey for the Greater Western Sydney Giants which she was a player for.

The Giants coach Alan McConnell, who coached Barclay, gave a moving eulogy at the memorial. People who couldn’t attend the service due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease got to watch it via video link.

The late athlete’s former head coach from the Lingerie Football League for the Chicago Bliss, Keith Hack, was one of the people who appeared in the video link. Not everyone wore black at the funeral as others chose to wear bright colors.

Wearing colorful clothing was a call to try and end the stigma around suicide and depression. Barclay’s coffin was carried by six pallbearers who included four men and the other two people were women.

Three days after her passing, Barclay’s family created a GoFundMe account to raise funds for her funeral. The star’s family asked for monetary donations in lieu of flowers and so far they’ve raised $8,489 out of the $15,000 goal.

According to West Australian Police, the athlete’s lifeless body was discovered inside her Chidlow home near Perth. When the news of her death broke many of her fans and former teammates paid tribute to her.

Besides being an athlete, Barclay also had a passion for tackling social issues. She promoted causes such as the Mungo Youth Project which teaches Aboriginal cultural and heritage practices in schools.

The late star also addressed the role of women in sports. She’s also one the stars who’ve shown public support to equality movements like America's Black Lives Matter movement among other causes.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org.