Obituaries 03-11-2012

Joan Duignan, Navan Joan Duignan was a person who was passionate about her interests and the things that were important to her, Fr Declan Hurley, Adm, Navan, told the congregation at her funeral Mass in St Mary's Church, Navan, on Monday morning. He highlighted her work as a journalist, her interest in culture, history, sport, and her passion for friendships and relationships. The former Meath Chronicle journalist died on Friday last at her Abbeylands home, aged 59, causing widespread shock and sadness around the town and county. Fr Hurley spoke of the sense of loss felt by so many in the community, as "a highly talented, passionate and respected daughter of our town has been taken from us so suddenly in death". He recalled Joan's lifetime of service to the community as a journalist with the Meath Chronicle, and her passion for communicating the truth. "Whether she was reporting on local politics, or from the courts, or just simply on local events, she went to extraordinary lengths in her research so that her piece would be factually accurate, and to ensure that justice and fairness were served," Fr Hurley said. He explained how she also contributed to the national media as a correspondent on local matters in the Meath area, and always impressed with her grasp of matters, her insight and analysis, and her ability to articulate a situation with fairness and accuracy. At the national sport which was the election count, she became gripped in the excitement and anticipation as she feverishly reported locally and nationally on the transfers and eliminations. Joan's passion for literature and languages saw her excel at English and French at St Joseph's Mercy Secondary School, later expanding her linguistic ability by becoming proficient in Spanish and Italian. She was passionate about Irish and European history, devouring books on the subjects. "It gives us an insight into the mind of the woman - hungry for knowledge, hungry for understanding why things are the way they are - which is what history is all about - and hungry to communicate - which is what languages are about," Fr Hurley added. As well as being a huge fan of, and an expert in English and European soccer, she was a passionate fan of Meath and Navan O'Mahonys, and would have rejoiced in the Navan club's great victory in the senior county final at the weekend. She was passionate about her relationships, with her friends, family, and in particular, her nieces and nephew, and set about communicating to them her love of culture and sport. Family, friends and colleagues of Joan Duignan's took part in the readings, prayers and offertory at the Mass, where gifts brought to the altar included a sample of her knitting, sporting jerseys, books and a copy of the Meath Chronicle. Past colleagues and present employees of the Chronicle provided a guard of honour from St Mary's Church, flanking the hearse as the cortege passed the newspaper's offices at Market Square and Timmons Hill. At St Mary's Cemetery, friends paid tribute and read poetry in English, Italian, Spanish and French, as well as concluding with a rendition of 'Beautiful Meath', led by Adrian Goslin, one of a group who attended Meath's Croke Park games with Joan. Joan Duignan was described by friends as a free thinker, thoughtful, multilingual, analytical, but with strong views on tolerance. She held many strong views, as is inevitable in a political correspondent. She always stressed that these were her views and never sought to impose them on anyone else. She would argue her points forcibly, but leave room for reply. She preferred to read original texts, whether in English, French, Italian or Spanish, and was more than capable in these languages. She had recently decided that her Irish needed a touch of up-skilling and set about making it so, getting involved in working with Gael Linn. In history, her current specialist areas were the Plantagenets and the Tudors. Joan was also passionate about knitting. Whether it was hats, scarfs, or cardigans, or more recently, socks, she was ahead of her time in her sophisticated use of design and pattern and yarns. Patterns were swapped, needles exchanged and yarns discussed with as much passion as if they were a party in government. Cars were a necessary evil to Joan, and she hoped for the rail link between Navan and Dublin and all the economic and social arguments to support such a scheme. It was beyond her comprehension that it has not yet happened. She was remembered as fun and a good friend, who had a wry take on personalities and events. She never forgot an upcoming exam or interview or birthday, and had a wonderful generosity of spirit. Her friends dated right back to secondary school, through university and through her long career in journalism. That she was still in close contact with so many of her friends was a measure of her loyalty. There was never a hint of discrimination, distinction or prejudice against anyone, friend Ronnie Owens said in a graveside tribute at St Mary's Cemetery. He said her commitment to, and respect for, politics, community life, and democracy was clear from her overt fairness to all before, during and after elections. "The perfect citizen, she loved her country and its people," he said. Daughter of the late Peter and Una (nee Matthews) Duignan, Joan was predeceased by her father in 1972, and her mother - who established a well-known newsagents and grocery store at Abbeylands in the 1970s - in January 2010. She is survived by her brothers, David and Brian; sister, Helen; sisters-in-law, Ann-Louise and Anna; nieces, Emily, Mollie and Ellen; nephew Tom, and extended family. Fr Hurley was assisted in concelebrating the funeral Mass by Fr Raymond Husband, a friend of the Duignan family. ___________________________________________________ Mary White, Donore The regretted death occurred on 7th October last of Mrs Mary (Mai) White, Staleen, Donore, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Navan, aged 69. Deceased (nee Mooney) was wife of Shay White. She loved swimming and set dancing and enjoyed both up until her cancer was diagnosed five and a half years ago. With her health failing, she took up painting and crochet, and enjoyed making cardigans and shawls for her grandchildren. Deceased was commended for her paintings, but refused to sell them and gave a lot of them away to friends. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Mrs White is survived by her husband, Shay; daughter, Veronica Hughes, San Francisco; son, Ken, Donore; son-in-law, Bosco; daughter-in-law, Gena; grandchildren, Meagan, Lisa and Michael; brothers, Jimmy and PJ; sister, Ann; sister-in-law, Maria; nieces and nephews. The funeral took place from Donore Church to the adjoining cemetery, celebrated by Fr Michael Meade, PP. ____________________________________________________ Thomas Clarke, Trim There was widespread sadness and shock following the death on 20th September last of Mr Thomas Clarke, Blackfriary, Trim, at the age of 63, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. Son of Betty and the late Thomas Clarke, Mr Clarke, known as Tom to many, was a native of Bective, Navan, moving to Trim with his wife, Carmel, and family in 1977. Deceased attended national school in Robinstown, and in 1962 went on to attend secondary school in the old Technical School in Navan where he completed his Group Certificate, receiving a special award for his achievements in metalwork. He and Carmel were married on his 21st birthday, and they celebrated 42 years of marriage on 29th July this year, when Mr Clarke turned 63. Deceased loved to be outdoors and was a hard worker as a young boy, helping out and working on local farms in the Bective and Robinstown area, the highlight for him being able to drive the farm tractors. In recent years, he put some of what he learned back then to practice by taking a keen interest in growing and tending to his own vegetables. He enjoyed fishing and shooting, and he was usually accompanied by a four legged canine friend for these outings. He was a member of Trim Gun Club, numerous angling clubs, and was involved in the running of the Trim Vintage and Veteran Car Rally for the last 25 years. He was predeceased by his son, Justin, in 1992. Both spent many happy days fishing together at the White Lake in Fore, Co Westmeath. Mr Clarke served his time as a plumber with James Russell and Sons in Navan in the 1960s, branching out on his own in the early 70s to establish his own plumbing and heating business. In the early 90s, he specialised in the heating business, establishing Tom Clarke Heating Services, acting as service engineer for Waterford Stanley, Rayburn and Aga cookers. He was well known to many people in Trim and the surrounding areas as the 'Stanley Man', and he will be sadly missed by his co-worker Thomas Barry, who will proudly continue on the business that Mr Clarke built up. Deceased is survived by his wife Carmel; mother, Betty; son, Thomas; daughters, Genevieve and Esther; sons-in-law, Matthew Molloy and Garry O'Neill; sister, Olive O'Connor, Robinstown; brothers, Eric, Dean Hill, and Vincent, Bective; grandchildren, Thomas, Northumberland, UK and Justine, Collinstown. The funeral took place from St Patrick's Church Trim, to St Loman's Cemetery Trim. A month's memory Mass will take place on Sunday 4th November at 11am in St Patrick's Church. ____________________________________________________ Laurence Duffy, Castletown The unexpected and sudden death on 1st October last of Mr Laurence (Larry) Duffy, Gravelmont View, Castletown, Navan at the age of 56 years was the source of widespread regret and sadness to his family and wide circle of life long friends who lost a much valued friend and companion. A very loyal, loving and caring son, brother and uncle, he enjoyed time spent with one and all. He will be very sadly missed for his great presence, humour and conversation. Predeceased by his father, James in 1995, Mr Duffy is survived by his mother, Kathleen; brothers, Jimmy, Matt, Benny, Desmond; sisters, Mai, Nuala, Kathleen, Hylda And Phyllis; sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; nieces; nephews; grand nieces; grand nephews; many relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St Patrick's Church, Castletown KP, with burial afterwards in Knock Cemetery.