Tanice Samuels has been remembered as an “angel on earth” who acted as an inspiration to many others during her short life.
The devoted mother-of-two, who died unexpectedly aged just 34, was a fashion and beauty creative based in Belfast who left behind a career in law to pursue her dreams.
In a post on her Instagram page, her family broke the tragic news that “our beautiful, smart and kind Tanice Elizabeth Samuels passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday 18th December”.
Among almost 1,000 comments in response, she was described as “a ray of light and a pure soul”.
Model and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wrote: “Tanice you will be greatly missed by so many. I always enjoyed our time together. Such a vibrant and beautiful woman. My thoughts are with your family who you always spoke of so dearly.”
Tanice lived her own life, not worried about others’ expectations nor daunted about others’ disapprovals. She had a confidence about who she was and what she wanted to do with her life
— Fr Pat Sheehan
At her funeral in St Bernard’s Church, Glengormley, Fr Pat Sheehan said while Tanice’s life had been too short on earth, it was one “that was certainly full, full of so many choices, experiences and achievements”.
He spoke of her many gifts and talents, from playing the harp and clarinet and singing at school to her academic ability and creativity which flourished in the world of fashion and beauty.
“Tanice lived her own life, not worried about others’ expectations nor daunted about others’ disapprovals. She had a confidence about who she was and what she wanted to do with her life,” he said.
He added that having suffered the death of her father Sam in Jamaica in 2015, family and friends “were all-important and Tanice thankfully was blessed with both. Foremost among them her devoted husband Jon-Paul and two boys, Logan and Isaac.”
Tanice Samuels is also survived and sadly missed by her mother Angela, brother and sisters, grandmother and family circle.