THE remains of vet Catherine Gowing have been flown home to her family in Ireland.
A funeral mass for the 37-year-old, who lived in Mold, will take place today in Birr, County Offaly.
Her local priest has spoken of the relief felt by her devastated family to have her returned home.
The service comes just days before the man accused of her murder is due in court to enter a plea.
Father Michael O’Meara, from Miss Gowing’s parish church St Flannan’s in Kinnitty, Birr, told the Evening Herald Irish newspaper: “You can never get closure for something so tragic as this.
“The hearts and prayers of everyone here are with Catherine's poor family,
“It’s a very sad day for the community here but we’ve been praying for a long time for her to be returned to us and that is what is happening.
“So it’s a relief in that sense for the family to have her back.”
Clive Sharp, 46, from Gwynedd, is due at Caernarfon Crown Court on Monday, where he is expected enter a plea to the murder charge.
Miss Gowing, 37, had lived in New Brighton, Mold, for about 20 months before her disappearance. The alarm was raised when she failed to turn up for work at Evans Veterinary Practice in Mold on Monday, October 15.
She was last seen alive leaving the Asda store in Queensferry at about 8.39pm on Friday, October 12.
North Wales Police’s largest ever search operation followed and Miss Gowing’s Renault Clio was found burnt out in Pinfold Lane, Alltami, near Mold.
Remains belonging to Miss Gowing were later found in a shallow pond in Sealand known locally as The Lum.
Another grim discovery was made on the banks of the River Dee in Higher Ferry and the search for further evidence and remains continues.