Recent deaths 03-04-10

Margaret Curtis, Kentstown Mrs Margaret Curtis, of the well-known Kentstown business family, who celebrated her 100th birthday last summer, passed away over the weekend at her home at Flemington, Balrath. The last remaining member of a large extended family, she was five years old when her mother passed away, and her father, Connie Clarke, subsequently remarried. The first Mrs Clarke had also married twice and, as a result, Margaret was part of a large family unit that included a brother and sister, two stepsisters, and a stepbrother. After working in various houses in Meath and Kildare, Mrs Curtis was established in the shop on the main Slane-Ashbourne road by her father and, in 1938, she married Michael Curtis, an insurance salesman from the Boyne Road in Navan. The purchase of the shop cost Connie Clarke €40. At the time, she cycled to the suppliers in Drogheda for stock for her shop, to Larry Walsh wholesalers, and then, her husband got a pony and trap with the Curtis name emblazoned on it, of which they were quite proud, and Kierans of Drogheda became suppliers. The Curtises delivered to homes in the area from Duleek through Kentstown and up to Rathfeigh, and later acquired a van for this purpose. Mrs Curtis built up the shop by supplying minerals and sandwiches to patrons of the neighbouring dance hall, and gradually her husband became more and more involved in the running of the shop. Their van was also used to transport local mothers-to-be to the maternity hospital in Trim. Another great boost to the business was the use of the Irish Army of Somerville House for manoeuvres, which increased custom. In later years, an undertaking business was also set-up. Michael and Margaret Curtis had a family of six and, as things got busier in the house, local staff were employed to help out in the shop. As the children - Theresa, Ollie, Dessie, Sean, Tony and Colm - got older, they also got their turn behind the counter. Later, Tony set up his own garage business at the location, but tragically died in an accident there in the 1990s, an event which caused great heartbreak to the family. Michael Curtis passed away in 2000, in his 90th year, by which time Mrs Curtis had wound down her involvement in the shop, continuing to live at the family home where Mass was celebrated to mark her centenary on 24th July 2009. In addition to her daughter and sons, she is survive d by her son-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sister-in-law, Rita, nephews, nieces, relatives, friends and neighbours. The removal took place to the Church of the Assumption, Kentstown yesterday evening (Tuesday). A funeral Mass will take place there today (Wednesday) at 11am, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. ______________________________________________________________ Marcella Owens, Navan The death recently occurred, at the age of 80, of Mrs Marcella Owens, 'Lisieux', Athlumney, Navan. Widow of the late John Owens, who died in 1997, she was a member of the Purfield family of Stamullen. She was very active for all of her life in Navan in the local Legion of Mary and made many pilgrimages to Lourdes over the years, both as a helper and an invalid. Prayers and devotion to the Catholic Church were the centrepoints of her life. Mrs Owens had a sharp and active mind and liked to entertain people with her witty recitations and monologues. She was a talented gardener and liked to foster an interest and love of nature in her grandnephews and grandnieces. She was a much-loved member of 'old Athlumney' and, in latter years, put much effort and time into researching the Purfield family tree, information she shared with family in Ireland and the United States. During her frequent illnesses over the past couple of years, she greatly appreciated the care and kindness of her GP, Dr Hayes, her public health nurse and especially the medical and nursing staff at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. Deceased is survived by her brother, Johnny Purfield, Stamullen, and his wife, Anne; niece, Ms Breda Shankey, Skerries, Co Dublin; sister-in-law, Mrs Mary Purfield, Duleek; nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces and other relatives. The funeral took place from St Mary's Church, Navan, to Stamullen Cemetery. ______________________________________________________________ Mollie Smith, Dunsany The parish of Dunsany lost one of its most senior citizens with the passing of Mrs Mollie Smith, Killeen, Dunshaughlin, on 9th March last, aged 93 years. Mrs Smith passed away peacefully at Heatherfield Nursing Home, Dunshaughlin, where she had been resident for six weeks prior to her passing. Deceased was a member of the Flynn family of Dunsany, one of the longest established families in the parish. She was born in September 1916, eldest of nine children of Michael and Kate Flynn, both of whom worked at Dunsany Castle, her father as a chauffeur and mother in the castle. One of her earliest memories was of the 'Black and Tans' raiding the family home in Dunsany when she was about five years old, looking for guns. After finishing school in Dunsany, the young Mollie Flynn, like most in the area, also took up employment in Dunsany Castle, working for the writer, Edward Plunkett, the 18th Baron. This took her to Shoreham, Kent, and Cadogan Square in London, where Plunkett had homes. She also worked briefly at Powerscourt House in Wicklow for the Powerscourt family, and in Simmonscourt Castle in Dublin. In June 1944, deceased married Christy Smith from Bellew, Rathfeigh, and they lived briefly at Bellinter, where Christy was working, before moving to Killeen in 1945, rearing a family of eight. Throughout her lifetime, Mrs Smith maintained an interest in reading, current affairs and sport, and enjoyed following everything from Gaelic football, to soccer, rugby and horseracing. On the occasion of her 90th birthday in 2006, she was made an honorary president of Dunsany GFC, in recognition of both her and her family's contribution to the local football club. Her late husband, Christy, and her mother, Kate, who died at the age of 97 in 1988, also held the role. Deceased was a member of the Horace Plunkett Guild of the ICA for some years and also enjoyed weekly bingo sessions. At the Dunsany NS School Reunion of June 2006, Mrs Smith, as the oldest surviving past pupil living in the parish, drew the winning ticket in the prize draw. She was predeceased by son, Christopher, in 1987; and by her husband, Christy, in 1988; and is survived by her sons, Michael, Clavinstown, Drumree; Francis, Curtistown, Kilmessan; David, Bective; Noel, Killeen, Dunshaughlin; and Dermot, Ringlestown, Kilmessan; daughters, Vera Mulroy, Trim; and Carmel McMahon, Warrenstown, Drumree; daughters-in-law; 15 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; brother, Michael Flynn; sister, Patsy Teeling, both Oxpark, Dunsany; sister-in-law, Peggy, Dublin; nephews, nieces, relatives; neighbours and friends. She was predeceased by her brothers, John, Joe, Harry and Jimmy; and sisters, Nancy and Kathleen. Members of Dunsany GFC provided a guard of honour at the removal to the Church of the Assumption, Dunsany, and the funeral took place to the adjoining cemetery, celebrated by Fr MV Daly, acting PP, Kilmessan, assisted by Fr David Cahill, Salesian, Warrenstown. A month's memory Mass takes place on Wednesday 14th April at 7.30pm in Dunsany Church. ______________________________________________________________ Mary O'Reilly, Tara and Australia A funeral Mass will take place on Saturday 10th April next for the late Mrs Mary O'Reilly, a member of the Naughton family of Old Ross Road, Tara, who passed away in Brisbane, Australia, on 15th March last. Mrs O'Reilly was wife of the late Jack O'Reilly of Dunshaughlin, and her ashes will be interred beside her late husband in Dunshaughlin following 10am Mass. She was in her 92nd year. Deceased and her husband lived for a time at Drumree before moving to London, England. Following her husband's death, Mrs O'Reilly divided her time between Ireland and Australia, where son John lives, and eventually settled with him in Brisbane. She is survived by her son, John; daughter-in-law, Michelle; grandchildren, Michelle, Micheal and Cara; great granddaughter, Isabella; nephews, nieces, nieces-in-law, nephews-in-law; relatives and friends. She was the last surviving member of her family, predeceased by her brothers, Paddy, Harry, Tommy, Jack and Peter Naughton; and sisters, Julia Gallagher, Duleek, and Christina King, London. ______________________________________________________________ Joe Harte, Boyerstown The death has occurred of Mr Joe Harte, Boyerstown, Navan, at the age of 93. Mr Harte passed away on 18th March last at Boyerstown. He was predeceased in 1999 by his wife, Lily. Mr Harte was a highly regarded gardener. He had a great love of the GAA and followed the Meath team, and competed in cycling in his younger days. He is survived by his daughter, Marie Brady; sons, Jimmy and Liam; daughters-in-law, Bernie and Joan; son-in-law, Liam Brady; grandchildren; great grandchildren; relatives and a wide circle of friends and neighbours. He was predeceased by his son, PJ; stepbrother, Kieran and grandson, Derek Brady. Mr Harte's funeral took place from St Cuthbert's Church, Boyerstown, to Boyerstown Cemetery.