Obituaries 09-02-2013

Paul Carry, Kells The death occurred on Thursday 17th January last of Private Paul Carry, Maudlin Road, Kells, aged 49. A well-liked and respected member of the local community, he was affectionately known to many of the townsfolk in his native Kells and beyond by the sobriquet 'Carrots'. Born in 1963, he was the son of Mary and Paddy Carry of Bective Street, Kells, and attended Scoil na gCéard in Bective Street, where his father worked as a caretaker for many years. He joined the Permanent Defence Forces at a young age and served a commendable 30 years in the service of his country, including much of his fledgling career on border patrol during some of the worst years of the Troubles. He also served two tours overseas with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). His period of time as a UN Peacekeeper was a source of great pride to him and his family all throughout his career. In 1986, Pvt Carry married Jude, and they had four children, Seán Maitiú, Daniel, Luke and Ruth. Deceased took immense pride in his children and particularly in the educational achievements that they attained in his lifetime, having fostered within them a great love of learning from a young age. A sharp and discerning character, he will be remembered by many people for different things, he had a wide and varied range of interests, most notably sport and current affairs. An avid reader of the Irish Independent, he would spend most of his evenings devouring the contents of the paper from cover to cover, before engaging in debate with the other members of his family on the stories of the day. Quick witted, he was well known for being a man of great banter and humour, characteristics that endeared him to all who knew him, both personally and professionally. Like his late father, Paul Carry had a great sense of devotion to Kells and the service of his community. He served as treasurer of Kells Handball Club for several years and was a member of the Kells Fire and Rescue service for over 10 years. In recent years, as he tackled ill health, he cut a familiar figure walking some of the lesser known parts of the town with his trusty and faithful companion, his dog Guinness. Having battled several illnesses in the last 13 years, Paul succumbed to a long and arduous final fight with cancer on the 17th January last, peacefully surrounded by his wife and children. His funeral Mass was concelebrated by Fr John Byrne, parish priest of Kells and Girley, along with Fr Pat Mernagh, chaplain to the Defence Forces at McKee Barracks and Fr John O'Brien, PP, Oristown. After the service, the members of the 65th and 7th Infantry Battalions of the Defence Forces carried the coffin out of the church, where the members of the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment provided a military gun carriage upon which his coffin, clad in the flag of the country that he loved and served, was borne to St Colmcille's Cemetery, in a procession led by the Army Band. There, he was interred with full military honours. Pvt Carry was predeceased by his parents, Paddy and Mary, and sisters, Breda and Tricia. He is survived by his wife, Jude; sons, Seán-Maitiú, Daniel and Luke; daughter, Ruth; sister, Susan; brother, Martin; mother-in-law, Anne; brothers- and sisters-in-law; nephews and nieces. _____________________________________________________________ Patrick Naughton, Ratoath The regretted death occurred on 24th December last of Mr Patrick Naughton, Fairyhouse, Road, Ratoath, at Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, aged 89. Deceased is survived by his wife, Sheila; family, Mary Hayes, Helena Carey, Kathleen Flood and Patrick Naughton, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. The funeral took place from the Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath, to the local cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Mary Toole, Navan The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has lost one of its most dedicated stalwarts with the death of Ms Mary Toole, Woodlands, Navan, which occurred on Wednesday 30th January. A native of Ratoath, she had been a member of the society in Navan since 1973 when she became its first lady member. She subsequently filled top SVP posts at conference (branch), regional and national level. Over the years, her sympathetic and knowledgeable approach to assisting the needy proved an invaluable asset to the organisation, which she so efficiently and willingly served. She was president of Navan SVP's St Oliver's Conference from 1975 to 1980 and president of Navan SVP's Area Council from 1980 to 1986. She again filled the latter post from 1993 to 2002. Mary Toole's service to the society's North-East Regional Council (Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan) was also immense. As well as representing her local area council on that administrative body for a number of years, she was also secretary of it from 1990 to September 2011. Prior to 1990, she guided the council's affairs as president for six years. However, it is probably through her impressive contribution to the St Vincent de Paul Society's role in overseas assistance that she was better known to members throughout the country. As a former SVP National Twinning Officer, she was responsible for ensuring the Irish society's sharing of friendship and material resources with SVP conferences in deprived parts of the world with which SVP regions here are 'twinned' for aid purposes. She continued to fill that role at regional council level up to the time of her death. While her efforts and expertise hugely benefited the effective operation of the society at many levels over the years, her true legacy is the positive difference she made to the lives of so many needy people to whom she reached out with friendship and assistance. In March of last year, Ms Toole - who was in her late 70s - was presented at a Mass in Navan with a medal to mark 50 years of service to the society. A former employee of Teagasc in Navan, she is survived by her brother, Dan; sisters, Breda Owens and Eileen Fagan; sister-in-law, Imelda; brothers-in-law, Cliff and John; nieces and nephews. Her funeral took place to Ratoath Cemetery after Mass in St Mary's Church, Navan, last Saturday. Over 50 present and former members of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Navan provided a guard of honour in the grounds of St Mary's Church, where her remains were received on Friday evening. Among the attendance at the Mass and funeral on Saturday were SVP national director Kieran Murphy and former national presidents of the society, Brian O'Reilly and Mairead Bushnell, as well as members of the North-East Regional Council. _____________________________________________________________ Kathleen Daly, Kells The death occurred peacefully of Mrs Kathleen (Kitty) Daly, Whitecommons, Dulane, Kells, in her 92nd year, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. She was predeceased in December 2007 by her husband, Willie. Her funeral took place from Mullaghea Church to Dulane Cemetery, celebrated by Monsignor John Hanly, PP, Carnaross. The readings of the Mass, prayers of the faithful, offertory procession, were carried out by the family and friends of the deceased and sacred music and song was provided by Bernadette Curtis and Bernard Kiernan in a beautiful and moving tribute to a much loved member of the Carnaross and Mullaghea parish. Deceased is survived by her sister, Peggy; nieces; nephews; relatives and friends. _____________________________________________________________ Patrick Fagan, Clonmellon Mr Patrick (Paddy) Fagan, Clonmellon, who died at Mullingar General Hospital on Friday 25th January last, has been described as 'a man for all seasons'. Son of the late Michael and Elizabeth Fagan, Brownstown, he was born Patrick Joachim Fagan on 11th August 1926. As a young man, he served his apprenticeship as a butcher in Co Cavan, but later decided to become a lorry driver, and during the war years hauled turf to the Phoenix Park, ensuring that the people of Dublin were kept warm. He then emigrated to Coventry, where he worked in Ferguson for a time, and later, with British Steel in Manchester, for 40 years. On retirement, deceased returned to live in Clonmellon to be close to his family. There, he made many new friends socially, and while walking his dog, which he did every morning and evening, no matter what the season, on the Killallon and Kilskrye road. He loved the chat with locals on the happenings of the day. Mr Fagan had a great interest in hunting and fishing, and had a love of poetry, particularly from the Yukon period of English poet Robert Service, including some of his lesser known poems. A favourite was 'The Cremation of Sam Magee'. Deceased was a gentleman and the simple things in life made him happy. He was a devout Catholic and prayer was part of his daily routine. He is survived by his brothers, Billy and Michael; sister, Harriet; nephews; nieces; relatives and friends. The funeral took place from the Church of Ss Peter and Paul, Clonmellon, to Archerstown Cemetery, celebrated by Fr Sean Garland, PP. A musical tribute was performed at the graveside by Jamie Duffy and Lisa Tighe. _____________________________________________________________ Eileen Gaynor, Kells The regretted death occurred on 30th December last of Mrs Eileen Gaynor, Church Street, Oldcastle, at Cavan General Hospital. Aged 83, Mrs Gaynor was a member of the Connor family of Seymourstown, Carnaross, Kells, and was predeceased in 1984 by her husband, John. Deceased was a golden jubilarian member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, and was also a minister of the Eucharist in Oldcastle. She was secretary of the Ballinlough Youth Band for many years. Mrs Gaynor is survived by her son, Sean, Crossbane, Mullagh; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth; grandchildren, Christopher and Tristan; sister, Brigid Weldon, Oldcastle; nieces; nephews, relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St Brigid's Church, Oldcastle, to Ballinough Cemetery.