Obituaries 26-11-11

Mourners at the funeral of 14 year-old Ruth Maguire in St Oliver's Church, Navan, on Friday last, heard Fr Declan Hurley ADM describe a girl who was very generous and giving, who gave of herself without counting or calculating. Ruth, daughter of Aidan and Liz Maguire, and a student of Loreto St Michael's, passed away in her sleep at home at Antylstown, Navan, on Tuesday of last week. The communities around Navan, Kilberry and Wilkinstown were joined in rallying around her family by the school communities of Loreto, her past school, St Oliver's NS, where her brother Luke attends, and Scoil Naoimh Eoin, where her mother works, as well as Spotlight Stage school, of which she was a member. Ruth was a talented musician and was regarded as a born leader, and was a class captain in Loreto. She welcomed and presented flowers to President Mary McAleese when the former President visited St Oliver's Church for its jubilee celebrations some years back. Her image was used on the National Concert Hall's 2009 calendar, from a photograph taken when she performed with Spotlight Stage School in the NCH's annual Christmas Show, 'The Snowman Movie'. Fr Hurley said that, even though it is hard for us to move beyond the thought that her life was cut short and that she had so much more to give, we mustn't allow ourselves to fall into the trap of thinking that Ruth's life was unfulfilled. "There was a beauty to Ruth's life, an amount of love and joy and goodness that would have filled many's the long life, and we can't and mustn't lose sight of that." He said that the sure sign that Ruth's joy was the real thing could be seen in the way she found joy in helping others. "As an altar server here in St Oliver's, she was never more happy than when she was helping in whatever way she could and wherever help was needed. She loved the responsibility of it. "You only had to look in Ruth's direction, and instinctively she knew what you needed and was onto it with determination and purpose, and always with a heart and a half, and with eyes that smiled. Even after she finished as an altar server, it was not unusual to see Ruth helping to tidy up after Mass." He said her friends and her classmates in second year in St Michael's can tell how she won the respect, admiration and love of all. She was admired and loved for being true to herself, for the respect she showed others, for the joy she created around her, and for the enthusiasm she brought to everything. Ruth Maguire was passionate about music, especially the violin and the piano. She was one of the first members of the childrens choir in St Oliver's when it was formed a number of years ago, and she loved the opportunities that her primary and secondary schools afforded her to develop her talent for music and drama. And she was as happy around the house and fields of Antylstown as she was in a school orchestra. "Last weekend, for Aidan's birthday, Ruth did a little mini-poster with three simple words: Live, Laugh, Love. It's as if she was leaving us a message about how we might cope with her loss, like a modern-day St Thérèse leaving us her little way: embrace the gift of life with joy and live it in love," Fr Hurley said. Classmates of Ruth's provided guards of honour, and took part in the church ceremony. She is survived by her parents, Liz and Aidan; brother, Luke; grandmother, Phyllis Maguire; uncles, aunts, relatives, and many friends. She was predeceased by her infant sister, Rebecca, and just last year, by her grandfather, Joe Kerr, Dunmoe. Burial took place in St Mary's Cemetery, Navan. ___________________________________________________________ Philip Regan, Trim There was great sadness following the sudden death, after a short illness, of Mr Philip (Phil) Regan, Mornington View, Trim, and formerly of High Street, at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, on 29th October last, aged 77. Deceased worked as a driver for Smyths, Trim, up to his retirement. He had an avid interest in horses, and enjoyed going racing, and also followed soccer, which he had played in his earlier years. Mr Regan also loved dancing and fishing. He is survived by his sisters, Kathleen Byrne, Summerhill, Marie Jones, London; brother, Patrick, Trim; brother-in-law, nieces; nephews; grandniece; grandnephew; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St Patrick's Church, Trim, to St Loman's Cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Ultan Fitzsimons, Navan Wideapread sorrow and regret was caused on 2nd November last by the untimely passing of Mr Ultan Fitzsimons, Troytown Heights, Navan, aged 67 years, at Our Lady's Hospital. Deceased was son of the late Billy and Christina Fitzsimons, Flower Hill, Navan, owners of The Magnet, a popular meeting place on Trimgate Street in Navan for many years. Mr Fitzsimons was proud to be a true native of Navan and spent most of his youth working in the local furniture factories, long since gone. He had a keen interest in fishing, and was an excellent pool player. He was also a gifted gardener and in recent years, spent all his time seeking to perfect this skill. A kind, generous, caring gentleman, devoted to his wife, Mary, deceased was always good for a joke and the 'craic' and will be sadly missed. He is survived by his wife, Mary; sister, Helen Clarke, Dublin; nieces, Jocast, Navan, Lavinia, Dublin, sister-in-law, Anne Ward, Kells; cousins, relatives, and a large circle of friends. The funeral took place from St Oliver's Church, Navan, to St Mary's Cemetery. A month's memory Mass will take place on Sunday 4th December at 10am in St Oliver's Church, Navan. _____________________________________________________________ Tommy Daly, Athboy There was considerable sadness following the recent passing of Mr Tommy Daly, Cloran, Athboy, at the age of 65, at the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin. A native of Cloran, he was son of the late Bernard and Eileen Daly, and spent his life farming. He had a great interest in sport in general, and Brownstown Hurling Club and St Paul's Football Club in particular. Deceased is survived by his wife, Imelda; daughters, Eileen Cunningham, Cloran; Caroline Ryan, Ballivor, Mary Rose Daly, Ann Marie and Eimear Daly, Cloran; brothers, Seamus, Wicklow, Brian, Athboy; sisters, Betty Goggins, Dublin, Eileen Daly, Kildalkey, Mary O'Connor, Athboy and Bridget Daly, New York; uncles; grandchildren; relatives and many friends. The funeral took place from Ss Peter's and Paul's Church, Clonmellon, to the local cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Billy Maher, Kiltale and London The regretted death has occurred in Northolt, London of Mr Billy Maher, a native of Batterjohn, Dunsany, aged 51. Son of the late Paddy and Mag Maher, he died on 10th November following a long illness. Mr Maher was well known member of the band Rumors & Fiddlesticks who played regularly in Warrenstown Arms, The Firehouse (now McCormack's) in Trim and many other venues around Meath. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, daughters, Jennie and Kate; brothers PJ and Tommy; sisters, Anne, Tilly, Mary, Libby, Helen, Teresa, Trisha and Judy; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and other relatives. The funeral took place in London on Monday of this week. The family was very touched at the huge support they received at a Memorial Mass in Kiltale on Monday of last week. _____________________________________________________________ Ann Coogan, Trim There was widespread sadness following the death of Mrs Ann Coogan, Newtownmoynagh, Trim, just over a year after the passing of her husband, Michael. Mrs Coogan (nee Gleeson) was a native of Glenflesk, Killarney, Co Kerry, and met Tullaghanstown native Michael Coogan while both of them were working in Toronto, Canada. They wed in 1968 and returned to Ireland in 1971, originally living at Tullaghanstown before moving to Newtownmoynagh, Trim, in the mid 1980s. Mr Coogan, a well-known butcher and businessman, passed away in July 2010. Mrs Coogan is survived by her family, Michael, Tracy, Danny, Tara and Declan; brothers, sisters, grandchildren, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. Her funeral took place on Tuesday of last week from St Patrick's Church, Trim, to Dunderry Cemetery. Donations if desired to the Irish Cancer Society.