Obituaries 30th November 2013

Marie Lynch, Trim

The town of Trim lost a pillar of community and business life with the passing of Marie Lynch, of Lynch’s Shop on Emmet Street. Marie passed away suddenly at her home on Wednesday 23rd October and her death stunned her family and community as she was a vibrant mother, grandmother and business woman up until then.
A member of the Matthews family of Proudstown, Navan, she moved to Trim in April 1966 following her marriage to Pat Lynch of Emmet Street, and in 1969 the couple opened Lynch’s Supermarket and developed it into a one of the most thriving and successful businesses in the town.
Prior to moving to Trim, Marie worked with the Civil Service in Dublin before taking a job with Hibernian Insurance. After meeting Pat at a dance in Beechmount in 1963 they got married three years later and she worked in the Trim Town Clerk’s office before embarking on the shop trade. Setting up home down the street from the shop, Marie and Pat had their first child, Lorna in 1967, and after moving to her new home adjoining the shop more family followed with Ann, Fergal, Rosaleen and Robert born.
Despite having five children of her own and running a successful business, Marie still had time to have a kind word for every customer and delivery man. It was only after her passing that the tales of her many kind deeds came to light with many of the hundreds of mourners regaling her family with stories that underlined her generosity of heart and remarkable kind nature.
Marie’s soft side was offset by her strong will and she was always more than capable of holding her own in any debate. Many of the politicians that often canvassed at her door were left scurrying with their tails between their legs, while she could also hold court on many topics including politics, sport and entertainment.
Sport was one of her great passions. She had a knowledge of every sport and even before her passing she could recall vividly every score in the recent Summerhill v Na Fianna SFC final as well as knowing who was leading the World Series Baseball or heading the field at the local horse racing or greyhound racing meetings.
Marie came from the proud sporting Matthews family in Navan. Her father Joe, mother Mary and her brothers Oliver, Noel, Peter and Paul were synonymous with Navan O’Mahonys and even after she moved to Trim she still proudly wore her blue and white hoops.
Marie was devastated by the loss of her father Joe in March 1974, mother Mary in November 1985, and her brothers Oliver, who died in July 2000, and Noel who passed away in February this year.
She will be sadly missed by her husband, Pat; children, Lorna, Ann, Fergal, Rosaleen and Robert; brothers, Peter and Paul; grandchildren, Abigail, Liam, Katie, Áine, Mikey, Emily, Sophie and Conal; sons-in-law David, Billy and Michael; daughters-in-law, Fiona and Yvonne; sisters-in-law and many nieces, nephews, cousins and wide ranging family and friends. The funeral took place from St Patrick’s Church to St Loman’s Cemetery, Trim.

 

Patrick Finegan, Sydney

Patrick Francis Finegan, who died on 16th October last in Sydney, Australia,  was born in 1936 in Clonylogan, the tenth of 13 kids with seven sisters and six brothers.
He studied as an apprentice mechanic at Navan Technical College, and in 1958, moved to England and worked on numerous building sites factories and warehouses.  In 1960, he met Josephine, in the Irish Club in Romford, Essex, and ten months later in February 1961, at age 25, they were married. A year later, a son, Shaun, was born.
In September of that year, Patrick returned to Dublin to buy their first home and went into partnership with a brother-in-law running the Grand Bar in Dublin.
Fiona was then born in Dublin in July 1963.
In October of that year, they moved to Cashel, Co Tipperary, where they opened the County Bar. Pat drove trucks in the mines and Josephine worked as a community nurse. When not at work they were running the pub so they could continue to provide for their family. Siobhan was born in Cashel in October 1964, Eamonn in 1966 and then, in 1968, Patrick.
But tragedy struck and both these infants died and were buried in Cashel. This was a very traumatic time for the young couple and a change was needed. So in November 1970, the family moved to Australia.  On arriving in Sydney, the Finegans were transported by commonwealth cars to the Fairymeadow migrant hostel in Wollongong. This was not the future Patrick had envisaged for the family.
Early the next morning, he hitch-hiked from Wollongong to Sydney leaving his pregnant wife and three small children behind.  By the time he returned at 1am the next morning he had arranged a new job as a truck driver and secured the family a one-bedroomed flat in Bronte. Three months after arriving in Sydney, tragedy struck again when Pat and Josie’s new baby girl Ursula died in infancy.
He asked for a few days off but his heartless boss told him he could not have one until he produced the death certificate.  This was the last straw for a man who always had a very strong desire to be in control of his own destiny and to be his own boss.
Pat decided to start his own cleaning company. Then, in 1972 Owen was born. Later, a primary school classmate of Owen’s, Anthony Ridgeway, joined the family.
When Pat and Josephine were entering their sixties, they started a new venture to capitalize on the skill set of all the family. The Wee Wonders centres were created and Patrick became an honorary grandad to many of the children who attended.
He was an active member of his parish community serving on the parish councils of both Malabar and Maroubra and for the last two years whilst battling cancer he was actively involved in helping others through his work on the committee of the St Vincent De Paul Society.
His eldest son Shaun, speaking at his funeral Mass, said: “He was a straightforward man who demanded a high standard from those around him, and who expected only the best for his wife, children and grandchildren all of whom he was immensely proud. He was always there for his children and grandchildren in both body and spirit.”
Son Owen, who played international rugby for Australia, said that his dad was “a living example what it was like to be a father and a husband, that it was possible for a man to show tenderness, to be unafraid of open affection with his wife, children and grandchildren.
“We never doubted our father’s love,” he said. “We always hugged and kissed whenever we met and parted. He could never resist the opportunity to enjoy the craic, and enjoyed robust conversation with friends and loved ones. He was a surrogate father figure to the many people who passed through our home.”
Pat Finegan is buried at Botany Cemetery.  - Irish Echo Australia.

 

Patrick Thompson, Kilcock

There was considerable sadness following the passing of Patrick ‘Paudge’ Thompson, Glen Road, Kilmore, Kilcock. Aged 64, he was a native of Kilmore, and died at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown.
He is survived by his sisters, Maureen, Leixlip, Bridget, Maynooth, Carmel, Kiltale, Angela, Duleek, Patricia, England, and Dymphna, Dunboyne; brother, Aidan, Summerhill; nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, relatives and friends,
The funeral took place from Moynalvey Church to the adjoining cemetery.

Fergal A O’Reilly, Skryne

There was widespread shock and sadness following the sudden death at his residence on 7th November last of Fergal A O’Reilly, Collierstown, Tara, at the age of 77.
A native of Dulane, Kells, he moved to Skryne in the summer of 1972. He was an active member of the Skryne/Rathfeigh Pioneer Centre since moving to Skryne and was president of the Centre from 2003 up to his untimely death.
During his time with the Pioneers he was very much involved with organising day trips for the local centre, setting up the junior pioneer centre, organising talent competitions and collecting money for the Lourdes Invalid Fund.  He was a frequent pilgrim to Lourdes and regularly visited his family in San Francisco, holidaying there annually. He also participated in his local parish church activities in Skryne.
Predeceased by his daughter Noreen in February 2011, he is survived by his wife, Breda; sons, Ciaran, San Mateo, California, John, San Mateo, Brendan, Half Moon Bay, California, Michael, London, Paul, Collierstown, Tara; daughters, Patricia, Sydney, Australia, Helen, Dunshaughlin, Ann, Belmont, California, Rosemary, Collierstown, Tara; daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, family and friends. The funeral took place at the Church of St Colmcille, Skryne, with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery, celebrated by Fr Thomas O’Mahony, PP, Skryne, and Fr David Jones, Duleek. 

Kathleen Lynch, Kells

The regretted death occurred on 7th November last of Kathleen Lynch, late of Hurdlestown, Kells, and Willie Black Crescent, Kells, at St Joseph’s Nursing Home, Trim.
Aged 94, she was a native of Killua, Clonmellon, and  was predeceased by her husband, Jack Lynch, in 1990.
Prior to her marriage, deceased worked in many homes minding children, a job she loved very much.
With her own family, she loved walking and picnicing and teaching them about nature. Kathleen loved her glass of stout and hot whiskey, especially with her late good friend, Bridgie Morris.
She is survived by her daughters, Anne Argue, London, Bridget Fitzsimons, Kells, Katie Lynch, Kells, Dolores Lynch, Kells, Olive Lynch, Bective; sons-in-law; grandchildren; great grandchildren; relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her sons, Johnny and Kevin.
The funeral took place from St Colmcille’s Church to St Colmcille’s Cemetery.