‘Downton Abbey’ Star Michelle Dockery Responds To Her Fiancé John Dineen’s Death

“Downtown Abbey” star Michelle Dockery delivered a touching tribute at the funeral for her fiancé, John Dineen, at St. James Church in Ballinora, Cork, Ireland, Wednesday, the Irish Independent reported. He died Sunday after a battle with a rare form of cancer. He was days away from his 35th birthday.

“Whether in his work or his personal life John was extremely loyal," Dockery said at the private Mass, which was attended by close family and friends. "It was clear that when John was in your corner he was there. I was honored to know John. To love him and be loved by him. He was my friend, my king, my hero, my everything. We celebrate him, we honor him and we will miss him.”

Greif-stricken as she was, Dockery, 34, managed to sing "The Folks on the Hill" from the altar. She said she didn’t know if she would be able to sing the words, but joked at the service that John's father was "just as persuasive as his son."

Dockery touched on her fiancé’s charm in part of her speech. "John's charm was legendary," she said, the Irish Times reported. "He could persuade anyone to do what he wanted in the least pushy way possible -- particularly the women. He had a presence that was electric when he came in to the room. He had a wicked sense of humor. He had a genuine interest in other people."

They began dating in 2013 after they were introduced by “Downtown Abbey” co-star Allen Leech. Dockery was famously tight-lipped about her relationship. She slipped about her personal life in September 2014 and said, "I have a wonderful man in my life from Ireland,” People magazine reported. They became engaged in February.

Dockery will star in Season 6 of “Downton Abbey,” which will debut on PBS Sunday, Jan. 3 at 9 p.m. EST.

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