A WEST Belfast man who died suddenly in Bermuda has been remembered as a "very kind gentleman who had a heart of gold".
Stephen Martin (57), a father-of-three originally from Andersonstown, died on May 2.
Family and friends yesterday gathered for his funeral at St Michael the Archangel Church in Belfast.
His sister Davette Martin told The Irish News that her brother was "the type of guy who set himself goals and he achieved every one of them".
"He was always thinking ahead," she said.
"He was a big personality, no matter where he went or who he met, he always loved to get involved."
She recalled his charity work in Belarus, helping children and their families impacted by the Chernobyl disaster.
"He was heavily involved in bringing children over from Belarus to help them, he did lots of fundraising and work to get food, water and medical supplies for those in Belarus," she said.
"That was him, wanting to help others."
Ms Martin said her brother had taken ill four years ago and underwent emergency heart and bowel surgery.
"It took him quite some time to get back on his feet, but he did it," she said.
"He went to Bermuda a few months ago on a long visa and was just eager to enjoy life."
She said he took ill suddenly and died earlier this month.
"It was a very slow and agonising process to get him home, especially for his three children and grandchildren who doted on him," she said.
"If it wasn't for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, we could still be waiting on getting Stephen home. We are very appreciative of what they did."
During the funeral service yesterday, Fr Ciaran Feeney told mourners that Mr Martin was a "larger than life person, he was a gentleman".
"He accomplished so much in such a short space of time," he said.
"Very talented, very driven, very productive with his time, he opened many businesses both here at home and abroad, especially in catering.
"Stephen loved nothing more than a challenge and he accomplished, by and large, all his dreams.
"Even when he was faced with ill health those years ago, Stephen focused, he was determined to overcome his ill health and that's why it was such a shock, his death at the beginning of this month."
Fr Feeney also praised Mr Martin's charity work.
"Nothing reflects his thoughtfulness more than the work he did with the children from Belarus, children whose lives and families whose lives completely devastated by Chernobyl," he said.
"It was people like Stephen that made that happen, who literally transformed the lives of those children, the fundraising that he did to build schools in Belarus, medical facilities.
"Stephen made that happen for those children and all the groups that worked with him and it is a reflection of his thoughtfulness as a person."
