Recent deaths 11-04-09

Mrs Mary Gallagher, Kentstown Road, Athlumney, Navan, and formerly of Athlone, whose regretted death occurred recently, was a long-serving and valued member of the town"s St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP). Aged 69, she was a founder member of the local organisation"s St Paul"s conference (branch). She took a particular interest in Traveller welfare and was attached to the former Navan-based St Jude"s Settlement Committee which helped to obtain proper housing for members of that community at a time when many of them were living by the roadside and in other types of sub-standard accommodation. Mrs Gallagher combined a lively sense of humour with a deep understanding of people and their difficulties and her contributions at conference meetings to discussions of complex matters will be sorely missed. Over the years the deceased was particularly adept at initiating new members in the work of the society, particularly as regards visitation. 'She took these people under her wing,' recalled an SVP colleague. A devoted wife and mother, she was predeceased by her son, Kevin, and is survived by her husband, Tony; sons, Patrick, Anthony and Tom; daughters, Maria and Ann; brother, Pierce, and sister, Anne. Her largely attended funeral took place from St Mary"s Church to St Mary"s Cemetery, Navan. Richard Husband, Navan Widespread shock and sadness was caused by the sudden death of Mr Richard (Dickie) Husband of Finian"s Terrace, Navan. A French polisher, he was son of the late John and Kathleen Husband, St Finian"s Terrace. Born on 6th October 1947, he was an accomplished sports person and was a member of the Parkvilla team that won the 1973 LSL Metropolitan Cup. He was also a keen Gaelic footballer at underage level with Navan De La Salle and was an avid darts player with many league titles and individual trophies. His former team mates from Parkvilla provided a guard of honour at the obsequies. Mr Husband is survived by his wife, Julie; son, John; daughter, Joanne and Jennifer; daughter-in-law, Caroline; grandson, Stephen; brothers, Pat, Kiltale, and Fr Raymond, Columban Fathers; mother-in-law; brothers- and sisters-in-law; aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. The funeral took place on Monday of last week, 30th March, from St Mary"s Church to St Mary"s Cemetery. Nancy Cox, Manchester & Trim The regretted death occurred in Manchester on 18th March last of Mrs Nancy Cox (nee Kelly), Manchester and late of Doolistown, Trim. Wife of late John Cox, deceased was a daughter of Bernard and Rose Kelly. She is survived by sons, Michael, Bernard and Tommy; daughter, Rosemary; sisters, Rose Dronsfield, Mary Baxter and Ettie Gallagher of Manchester, Eilish Gibbons of Doolistown; brothers, James Kelly of Manchester and Bernard Kelly of Ballyconnell, Longwood; daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandson, relatives and friends. The funeral took place in Manchester with burial on 26th March. Fr John Dunne, Summerhill & Dublin FATHER John Dunne SJ, who has died aged 64, was born in Dublin but his family moved shortly afterwards to Meath where they farmed at Ginnett"s Park outside Summerhill. He went to national school in Trim and followed his sisters, Anne and Margot, to Colaiste na Rinne in Co Waterford for a year. He attended Clongowes Wood College in Co Kildare and there came under the guidance of several influential figures, among them Fr Tony Baggott SH who counselled Fr Dunne towards following the vocation already germinating in his mind. Fr Dunne was a regular on the Clongowes 1st XV and a love of rugby remained throughout his life. Following his Leaving Certificate in 1962, Fr Dunne entered the Society of Jesus at the order"s novitiate at Emo Co Laois. On completing his noviceship, he moved to Rathfarnham Castle, then a Jesuit stronghold in Dublin, and from there attended University College between 1964 and 1967. His arts degree included English, French and archaeology. Continuing on the road to ordination, deceased studied philosophy at Milltown Park and a two-year transfer to Limerick"s Crescent College gave him his first teaching experience when he tutored in French and religion. He was ordained on 21st June 1974 by Archbishop Dermot Ryan. Post-ordination, he became involved in career guidance counselling at Dublin"s Mater Dei Institute and this brought him into contact with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, established in 1976. Fr Dunne later acted as a member of its governing council and acted as its chairman from 1993-97. He returned to Crescent College, Limerick, and spent six years there. It was here that he 'fell in love' with computer technology. He had an ability to get on with people and to be unbiased and non-judgmental in his consideration of others" opinions, qualities and that endeared him quickly to his new community. In a house where senior and junior confreres had separate quarters, he recognised this as counterproductive. With gentle persuasion, barriers were delicately removed and the benefits of integration realised. Fr Dunne completed his term as rector of Galway in 1987 and then joined the teaching staff of Dublin"s Gonzaga College, where he was elected rector in 1993. Despite 46 years within the Jesuit fold, Fr Dunne was exceptionally close to his family, especially his sister Anne SC, the more so after the death of their father in 1975 and sister Margot in 1984. He was the benevolent uncle, always on hand for support, comfort and advice to Margot and shore Kelly"s three children Dara, Frankie and Aoife and their stepmother Breda.