Obituaries 12-11-11

The death occurred on 29th August last of Mr Don Rennicks, Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Navan. He was born on 2nd May 1952, a son of the late Johnny and Kate Rennicks. He attended Bohermeen National School and went to St Patrick's Classical School in Navan. As a teenager he was involved in cross country running and he became a founder number of the Bohermeen Athletic Club in 1969. He served as its first secretary and treasurer and in 1972 he played a leading role in acquiring a site for the club from the late Peter Bishop. The site was developed as the Bohermeen AC rooms and still serves as a local landmark to this day. In the early 70's, deceased wore the black and amber of both the Athletic Club and Bohermeen GAA Club with pride. During his time with the Athletic Club he helped them win many novice, junior and senior Meath cross country titles and was a playing member of the local GAA club which won a county title at intermediate level. Without his vision, imagination and youthful drive, Bohermeen AC would never have become the major force in athletics that it is today. Until his sudden passing, Mr Rennicks was a trustee of the club. In his early years, he worked in Clarke's Supermarket in Navan and later with McDermott Bros. He went on to start his own successful fruit and vegetable business in Grange, Bohermeen. He expanded the business into food processing and at its peak employed thirty people. The business continues to flourish. From a young age, his passion was game shooting and clay pigeon shooting. He was an active member of many local gun clubs, Ardbraccan, Dunderry and Cortown and was the driving force behind the annual Dunderry Clay Shoot. He was a founder member of the Forest Clay Pigeon Club. In the sport, deceased represented his province and country at the highest level. He won many of the top prizes in the British Isles and Junior High Gun of Ireland. He went on to become a qualified trap coach and referee in the sport. His friends from his football, athletic and shooting days turned out in large numbers for his removal and burial. Wearing their green blazers, his Irish team colleagues formed a guard of honour in respect and admiration for a good friend. Don Rennicks lived and loved life to the full. He had a great love of nature and all the changing seasons. His sense of humour, laughter, story telling will be remembered by all who knew him. He was generous with his time, a kind and loving man who would go out of his way to help anybody in need. Always selfless he will be remembered by all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife, Mairéad; brother, Sean; sisters, Marie and Patricia; his nieces and nephews. He is sadly missed by his loving family, the community he loved, the many friends and colleagues who had the pleasure of his friendship and humour. _____________________________________________________________ Margaret Moran, Navan and Wexford There was widespread sadness throughout Navan and Wexford at the sudden and unexpected death of Ms Margaret Moran, The Commons, Navan and St Leonard's, Ballycullane, Co Wexford. She died on 10th October last at Wexford General Hospital, at the age of 67. Deceased spent 40 years teaching in St Leonard's National School, and continued to reside in the area since her retirement just over two years ago. She was an avid GAA follower and regularly attended local and national games. She was a dedicated community worker and was involved in all parish committees in her beloved St Leonard's and beyond, but never forgot her roots in Navan and over the years, weekends and school holidays were spent at her home on the Commons. Ms Moran was a very religious person, attending Mass every day and looking after her local church in St Leonard's. She was a daughter of the late Jack and Peggy Moran, The Commons, Navan and a sister of the late Vincent Moran, Mullingar. She is survived by her brothers, Gerard, Newbridge, and John, The Commons; sister, Mary Boyle, Gainstown; sisters-in-law, Betty, Helen and Maureen; nieces, nephews, the Wall family of St Leonard's and the extended Moran family. Her funeral took place in the Church of the Nativity, Johnstown, Navan, where the chief celebrant was Fr Colm Browne, CC, Dunshaughlin, originally a next door neighbour at The Commons. He was assisted by Fr Declan Hurley, Adm, Navan, Fr Ignatius Waters, CP, Mount Argus, Dublin, Fr Iar O'Connor, PP, Ballycullane and Fr R Miskella, Wexford. Burial followed in St Mary's Cemetery, Navan. _____________________________________________________________ Miriam Lucy Creighton, Ratoath The regretted death occurred at her home on 24th October last, of Mrs Miriam Lucy Creighton, St Oliver's Park, Ratoath, at the age of 46. Daughter of the late Jack and Lucy Browne of Ratoath, she is survived by her husband, Pete Creighton; children, Lucy and Jacob; brothers and sisters, Canon Pat Browne, Westminster, Benny, Anne, Noel, Aidan and Dermot; nieces; nephews; grand nieces, grand nephews; cousins, relatives, neighbours and friends. The funeral took place from Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath, to the local cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Peter Dowling, Ardcath The funeral took place in Ardcath yesterday (Tuesday) of Mr Peter Dowling, Moorpark, Garristown, Co Meath, who had celebrated his 100th birthday in July. He passed away on Saturday at Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar, Co Mayo, where his daughter Alicia lives. Mr Dowling, known as 'The Major' in the locality, was a carter with Meath County Council for many years, and also farmed beside the Pudden Hill Equestrian Centre. Since the death of his wife, Alicia, in 2009, he was living in Castlebar, with his daughter, Alicia Murray and latterly, in The Sacred Heart Home. Peter and Alicia had four children: Peter, Anne, who died in 1982, Angela and Alicia. He is survived by Peter, Anglea, Alicia, grandchildren, great grandchildren, relatives, neighbours and friends. The funeral took place from St Mary's Church, Ardcath, to Crossmacole Cemetery.Annie McGuinness, Kells The death occurred, in her 92nd year of Mrs Annie McGuinness, Loyd, Kells, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. Deceased will be remembered as a kind and caring lady who lived a very private life with her family, who loved nature, her garden and was devoted to her prayers. She remained active until her peaceful death and took a keen interest in her family, her friends and the wider community. She was waked in her daughter, Margaret's residence where a steady flow of people from all walks of life came to pay a tribute to a very much loved lady. Her remains were removed to St Colmcille's Church, Kells for funeral Mass, which was celebrated by Fr John Byrne PP, who spoke of Mrs McGuinness' faithfulness to her family and her church. He said she lived a very quiet and prayerful life and God was kind to her in granting her a peaceful death in the company of her family. The readings at the Mass and the prayers of the faithful were read by deceased's grandchildren and the gifts taken to the altar represented aspects of her life. The funeral took place to St Colmcille's Cemetery. She was predeceased by her husband, George and infant son, Patrick; and is survived by her daughters, Margaret Smith and Mary Leonard; sons, George, Michael and Tommie, son-in-law and daughter in-law; grandchildren and great grandchildren. _____________________________________________________________ Kathleen Toner, Athboy There was widespread shock and sadness following the unexpected passing on Saturday morning, 29th October of Mrs Kathleen Toner, Beechgrove, Athboy, at the age of 63 years, at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital. Wife of Mr Paddy Toner, she was a member of the Halton family of Castletown, Athboy. A well-known and popular figure in Athboy, she was actively involved in many local organisations, including the Irish Countrywomen's Association, Athboy Tidy Towns, Athboy Fianna Fail Cumann, and St James' Church Choir. She worked in a number of hotels, including the Headfort Arms in Kells, and enjoyed following horseracing. Her abiding interest was in her children and grandchildren, and she will be remembered for her pleasant manner and great sense of humour. She is survived by her husband, Paddy; sons, Michael, Kilmacrennan, Donegal, Gerry, Kildalkey, John, Anthony and Kevin, all Athboy; daughters, Jennifer Murtagh, Delvin, Sharon, Tracey and Deborah, all Athboy; daughters-in-law; sons-in-law; 13 grandchildren; sisters, Ann Kelly and Mag Kelly; brothers, Jimmy, Johnny, Alfie, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and her many friends. She was predeceased by brother, Paddy. Many of the groups and organisations Mrs Toner was deceased was involved with provided guards of honour at her removal from Mullen's Funeral Home and and funeral from St James' Church to St James' Cemetery. Fr Patrick O'Connor, PP, Athboy, and Fr Oliver Devine, PP, Ballivor, officiated. A month's memory Mass takes place on Saturday 26th November, at 6.15pm, in St James' Church.