THE sister of teenager Rory Johnson has paid an emotional tribute during his funeral in a packed York church.

Keira Moore, whose brother died earlier this month of a one-in-2.5 million disease of the brain and spinal cord, said she had never imagined six weeks ago she would be having to say goodbye to him.

“Rory had his whole life ahead of him,” she told mourners at St Aelred’s Roman Catholic Church in Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall.

“So when my mum asked if I would like to say anything today, all I could think was how this sucks – big time!

“We are so sorry we couldn’t help you and we’re so sorry to have to say goodbye to you. Please know that we will love you and miss you every single day.”

The Press reported earlier this week how Rory, a fit and athletic 18-year-old, of Osbaldwick Lane, died after doctors lost a desperate three-week battle to save him from the ultra-rare condition ADEM (Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis).

Rory’s family chose a white coffin for his funeral, as white was always his favourite colour.

Keira said Rory had always been the cheeky one of the family.

He was the youngest of five and the one who could, and would, regularly get away with everything – “mum’s Golden child, a loveable rogue, if you will.”

She said: “Be it at home, or at school, Rory was always up to something.

“But there was never any maliciousness, just a mischievous boyish wonder which Rory was never afraid to explore. And with such a loveable face, he always got away with it.

“He just loved to rock the boat – who else would decide to defiantly support Man United in a household of Leeds United fans?”

She said Rory had been captain of his school rugby club, had become fluent at Spanish after living in Spain for two years and made friends easily with his outgoing personality.

“The Mecca ladies loved him as their bingo caller. At the Minster School, he was an angelic member of the choir.”

She said Rory had never got too big to give her a kiss or his niece a cuddle.

•The Press attended Rory’s funeral with the permission of his family.