Obituaries 21-04-2012

The passing of Mrs Gloria Goggins, Newtown, Trim, after a short illness, was the source of widespread sadness in her native Trim and across the county, where she was well known for her charity work and for her guesthouse near Tara. Mrs Goggins, who was 63, was a member of the Egan family who ran the Bon Bon on Emmet Street in Trim for many years. Her parents, Thomas and Margaret, ran the shop, and her grandfather, also Thomas, was proprietor of a public house on Emmet Street, later The Emmet Tavern. The Bon Bon, established in 1946, was renowned for its service, confectionery, fruit, vegetables, fish and giftware. The Egans developed one of the first ice cream parlours in the county which served as a meeting point for the youth of the town and surrounding areas, and the young Gloria Egan worked in the shop prior to her marriage to Michael Goggins in 1972. Gloria and Michael lived in Trim and Dunshaughlin before spending 25 years at Maherfield House, Ross, Tara, where she ran a successful guesthouse business. Gifted with her hands, she created much of the furnishings and décor at her homes. She could turn her hands to anything from gardening and flower arranging to embroidery and sewing, to baking and cooking, and received a diploma from the London-based Institute of Creative Arts. She had even turned her hand to carpentry and photography night classes. Deceased loved the outdoor life and gardening, as well as her pets, and at Tara kept a small flock of Jacob sheep, all with their own individual names. She was involved in fundraising and helping out in such charities as Riding for the Disabled and the Navan Mental Health Association, and hosted coffee mornings at Maher's Cross for Navan Mental Health and Action Breast Cancer. She loved entertaining and hosting guests. With Margot Davis of Modern Woman, and the late Margaret Sherlock of the Sherlock School of Dance on Canon Row, she was involved in Meath Chronicle fashion shows for charity. A favourite place of the deceased and her husband was the village of Alvor in the Portugese Algarve, where they maintained a home for the past three decades and visited annually, becoming part of the community there. The Goggins left Maherfield four years ago and returned to their native town. Mrs Goggins passed way on Monday 2nd April last. She is survived by her husband, Michael; daughters, Olga O'Sullivan and Erika Goggins, both Kilmessan; grandchildren, Lauren and Isabel O'Sullivan; sister, Sylvia Fitzsimons and husband Joe, Trim; and close cousin, Lilly Conlon, who grew up in the Egan household, and husband Anthony, Trim; son-in-law, Ciaran O'Sullivan; Willie Donnelly, partner of Erika; uncles, Laurie and Frank; relatives, and many friends. The funeral took place from St Patrick's Church to Mount Jerome Cemetery, celebrated by Fr Sean Henry, PP, Trim, assisted by Fr Terence Toner, PP, Kilmessan, and Fr Joe Cahill, St Columban's, Dalgan Park, Navan. Soloists were Ronan Walsh and Eamonn Toal, accompanied by organist Miriam Mooney. ____________________________________________________________ James McEvoy, Navan The recent passing of Mr James (Jimmy) McEvoy, of Connolly Avenue, Navan, at the age of 87, was the source of widespread regret. Mr McEvoy was a native of Scarlet Street, Drogheda, and died at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, on 30th March last. Born on 5th February 1925, deceased was the son of late John and Annie McEvoy. He attended school at St Vincent's, Fair Street, Drogheda, and received a Silver Fáinne at the age of 11. He then went on to attend St Joseph's Christian Brothers School, Drogheda. Mr McEvoy was one of the first members of the Knights of Malta in Drogheda when the unit started. His first job was with Kealy Solicitors in Laurence Street. He then went on to work as an area organiser with the ESB on the rural electrification of Ireland. He married his late wife Elizabeth (Betty), a member of the Kane family, Trim Road, Navan, on 30th April 1951 and went to England for a short while to work as a painter and decorator but he later returned to Navan to continue his work as a painter and decorator until 1974. Deceased started work in Tara Mines in 1974, initially as a mine clerk, and then from 1977 until 1991 as mill clerk. He retired from the firm in 1991. He also worked in the Tote at the Navan Greyhound Track for Bord na gCon from 1962 until 1995 when the greyhound track was closed down. He also had a keen in horse racing and other sporting and general activities and events nationally and locally. Predeceased by his wife, Betty, in June 2010, he is survived by his sons, John McEvoy, Athlumney Hall, Navan, and Gabriel McEvoy, Woodlands Estate, Navan; daughters, Jacinta Smyth, Clusker Park, Navan; Marie McEvoy, Bailis Manor, Navan, and Rosario McEvoy, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England; brothers, Willie McEvoy, Ballsgrove, Drogheda, and Michael McEvoy, Marion Park, Drogheda; sisters, Betty Meehan, College Rise, Drogheda; Nancy Tiernan, Legavoureen Park, Sunnyside, Drogheda, and Carmel Yates, Hove, Brighton, England. The funeral took place from St Mary's Church, Navan, to St Finian's Cemetery, Navan. _____________________________________________________________ May Nolan, Harristown There was widespread sadness following the death of Mrs May Nolan, Harristown, Navan, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, on 31st March last, aged 88. A native of Harlockstown, Dunboyne, she was wife of the late Seán Nolan, who died in 1996. In her youth, deceased was a keen sportswoman and played camogie for Dunboyne in the 1930s and '40s. In 1956, she married Sean Nolan and moved to Maynooth. In 1971, the family moved to Harristown, Navan, where May and her late husband built up a dairy farm and reared their five children. She was kind, funny and mischievous, a superb gardener and cook - her famous brown bread recipe went, unfortunately, with her. Mrs Nolan loved animals and her affinity with cats and dogs was legendary. Her beloved German shepherd, Isis, was her protector. On the farm she kept, at various times, hens, pigs, turkeys and sheep. She was able to spot a sick animal before it had any symptoms and took it as a personal insult if an animal died. She lived for her family and loved stories of competition and success in horses and cycling. She was well known in bicycle racing and equestrian circles, following the exploits of her sons John and PJ and lately her grandson Séan; while daughters Kay and Helen and then grandchildren Katie and Jamie were her pride and joy in showjumping and eventing. Deceased had an extraordinary relationship with young people and younger relatives, neighbours and friends always found in her a kind and understanding ally. She was a woman who embraced change and challenge, passing her driving test at the age of 52. Mrs Nolan loved company and meeting new people and was always delighted to welcome friends and neighbours. She especially enjoyed her regular visits to her daughter Helen in Galway. In later years, her health was not good, but she battled on bravely, not complaining, and refusing to allow her ailments stop her taking part in every family activity or outing. Mrs Nolan is survived by her sons, PJ and John; daughters, Mary, Kay and Helen; grandchildren, Katie, Jamie, Seán, Anna and Sophie May; sister, Babs; sister-in-law, Patty; son-in-law, Paul; daughter-in-law, Roslyn; Thelma, Pat and Albert; nieces, Patsy, May, Geraldine, Kay, Doreen, Deirdre and Aileen; nephews, Thomas, John, Séan, Colm, Patrick, Oliver and David; grandnieces and grandnephews; great grandniece and great grandnephews. In addition to her husband, Sean, she was also predeceased by her brothers, Peadar, Paddy and Tom Madden. Her funeral took place on Tuesday 3rd April from Yellow Furze Church to St Mary's Cemetery, Navan. A month's memory Mass will be in Yellow Furze on Saturday 28th April at 7pm. _____________________________________________________________ John Patrick Mahon, Oldcastle and New Jersey The regretted death recently occurred following a short illness in his adopted home in Westfield, New Jersey, USA, of Oldcastle native, Mr John Patrick Mahon. He was aged 64. A son of the late John and Ellen Mahon of Dromone, Oldcastle, he qualified as a motor mechanic at O'Neill's Garage in Oldcastle before emigration beckoned. He left for America in November 1966 and settled in New Jersey, where he raised his family. Deceased is survived by his daughter, Jennifer; son, Sean; brothers, Thomas, Noel and Gerry; grandchildren, nieces and nephews and a wide circle of friends on both sides of the Atlantic. It was Mr Mahon's wish to be laid to rest in his native Oldcastle. The burial took place in the adjoining cemetery after the funeral Mass in Moylagh Church celebrated by Fr Ray Kelly. _____________________________________________________________ Rene Furey, England and Ardbraccan Widespread sadness was occasioned following the passing of Mrs Rene Furey, a native of Quarry Road, Ardbraccan, Navan, who died, aged 75, in Derby, England, on 14th March last. Mrs Furey (nee Farnan) was very active in the Irish community in Derby. Along with late husband, Bill, who passed away in 2010, and a number of friends, they were responsible for the establishment of the Irish centre in the city, with which they were subsequently involved all their lives. She was involved in the Irish Pensioner's lunch. Mrs Furey was renowned for her bread making, which was always in high demand at functions and funeral receptions at the Irish Centre. She also was an accomplished Aran knitter. Deceased left Ireland for Derby in 1956 and worked for 32 years as a nursing assistant at both Pastures and Kingsway Hospitals, retiring in 2001. She met Bill Furey on 11th March 1957 at an Irish dance held at the Ritz Ballroom in Normanton, and they were married on 25th January 1958 at St Joseph's Catholic Church. Deceased, a daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Farnan, is survived by her daughters, Pauline, Nottingham; Hilary, Hertfordshire, and Bernadette, Derby; son, John, Derby; brothers, Paddy, Berkshire; Dennis, Yorkshire; Brendan, London; Sean and Willie, both Navan; sisters, Kathleen, Stoke-on-Trent, and Mary, Castletown; sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews and nieces. The funeral Mass took place in St Joseph's Catholic Church, Derby, on Wednesday 28th March, concelebrated by Fr John Trenchard, Fr Alan Burbidge and Canon Tim O'Sullivan, and was followed by cremation. _____________________________________________________________ James C O'Reilly, Kells and USA The death occurred at his home in the United States on 31st March last of Mr James C O'Reilly, of Union Dale, Pennsylvania and formerly of Far Hills, New Jersey, and Kells. He was aged 59. Deceased was the son of the late Joseph and Frances O'Reilly, and is survived by his wife of 22 years, Carolyn O'Reilly, Union Dale; his step-daughter, Cheryl Wise and husband Earl; granddaughters, Kathleen and Caroline Wise, all of Arnold, Maryland; brothers, Dermot and wife, Monica, and Jocelyn, Kells; cousins, Graham O'Reilly and wife Sonia of Kells, and Valerie Ryan of Moynalty; and numerous family and friends both in the United States and Ireland. Mr O'Reilly was devoted to his family and friends and took great pride in his work, home and heritage. He will be greatly missed for he was a greatly loved. Memorial donations in his name can be made to Mane Stream Therapeutic Riding at www.manestreaminc.org/donations or to 83 Old Turnpike Road, PO Box 305, Oldwick, NJ 08858.