Recent deaths 11-07-09

The Chernobyl Children"s Project International lost one of its most loyal supporters last Friday with the death of Mrs Ann Carolan (nee Melligan), Pinebrook, Trim, following a short illness. Mrs Carolan was well-known in the local community for her tireless work for the Chernobyl Children"s Project International, which she was involved with for some 14 years. Mrs Carolan was the group leader for the charity in Meath and the surrounding area and was involved in bringing dozens of children from Belarus to Meath each year for rest and recuperation visits. Indeed, Mrs Carolan and her family were so touched by the plight of the children in orphanages in Belarus that they adopted a little girl, Raisa, when she was six-years-old. Raisa thrived under the loving care of the Carolan family in Trim. Now aged 16, she is now attending Scoil Mhuire Secondary School in Trim. Mrs Carolan suffered a stroke some seven weeks ago and, while it had been hoped she could pull through, her condition deteriorated in the last few days of her life and she passed away at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, on Friday, aged 62. Fr Mark Mohan, who was a close friend, said Mrs Carolan had touched the lives of all who knew her from the 'hallowed halls of Aras an Uachtaran to the slums of Belarus.' Colonel Declan Carberry, representing President Mary McAleese, and Adi Roche, founder of the Chernobyl Children"s Project International, attended Mrs Carolan"s funeral Mass on Monday, which was celebrated by Fr Mohan. Fr Mohan told how both his own parents had died suddenly just before he came to Trim and how Ann Carolan had taken him under her wing and was like a second mother to him. Mrs Carolan got Fr Mohan involved in CCPI and brought him to Belarus in 2005. She also convinced him to shave his hair to raise money for the charity. In his homily, Fr Mohan said that Mrs Carolan 'was one and will remain one of the most influential leaders of our community' and that her name Ann Carolan remains 'synonomous with charity and selfless giving'. He said that she thrived on having people around her and that the things she lived for were her family, friends, children and God. Fr Mohan said that probably the best thing that she was known for was her love of children and that, in founding the Trim branch of CCPI, she took a concrete step towards helping the most vulnerable 'little ones'. Deceased is survived by her husband, Thomas, and children, Osra, Declan, Julieann, Regina, Tomás and Raisa; grandchildren, Ben, Declan, James, Brendan, Luke and Anna; sons-in-law, Shaun and Mark; sisters, brothers, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces and relatives. Her remains were removed to St Patrick"s Church, Trim, on Sunday evening and her Funeral Mass on Monday morning was followed by burial in Archerstown Cemetery, Clonmellon. ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Ciaran McNamara, Navan Mr Ciaran McNamara"s appreciation of music was reflected in his funeral Mass yesterday (Tuesday) in St Mary"s Church, Navan, where his son Frank conducted the choir and orchestra at the ceremony. Mr McNamara, of The Orchard, Athlumney, Navan, died suddenly on Saturday last at his residence. His wife, Rita, had only passed away only last year. Colleagues of Frank McNamara"s from RTE, including former 'Late Late Show" presenter Gay Byrne, joined family, neighbours and friends of Mr McNamara for the obsequies. Mr McNamara and his late wife had moved to Meath in recent years to be nearer their son and daughter, Siobhan, and their families. After a Donegal childhood and a few short years in Dublin, Mr McNamara moved with his family to Thurles at the age of 12. He formed a dance band called The Modernaires, and he and his wife met at a dancehall. Deceased worked as a clerk in Bord na Mona, while teaching music at night and on weekends. He had pupils in Thurles, Newport, Borrisoleigh, Roscrea, Nenagh, Borrisokane and Loughmore and later in Rockwell College. When Siobhan and Frank were in college and working in Dublin, Mr McNamara got a transfer to the Bord na Mona offices in Dublin, and the couple sold the house in Thurles and moved to Shankill where he continued teaching music at nights and weekends in Greystones. He later took early retirement from Bord na Mona and went to work in Devaney and Ryan solicitors in Dublin, where Mrs McNamara also worked. The McNamaras then decided to sell their Dublin house and moved closer to the family in Navan, moving to Flaxon Hall in Athlumney, where they were very happy for many years and made new friends. Following his wife"s passing, Mr McNamara bought a smaller house at The Orchard and continued to make connections and new friendships. He had recently enjoyed a Mediterranean cruise and had booked another one. Celebrating the funeral Mass, Fr Brendan Ludlow recalled how the previous weekend in St Oliver"s Church, Mr McNamara began 'what promised to be a glittering career as a parish organist here in Navan. Who could have imagined how brief this last chapter of his life would be or how suddenly he would be swept away?' Fr Ludlow recalled how he had celebrated Mass and blessed the new home at The Orchard not so long ago. Mr McNamara is survived by his daughter, Siobhan Sullivan; son, Frank; son-in-law, Sean; daughter-in-law, Theresa Lowe; grandchildren, Joanne, Kevin, Fiona, Quincy, Frankie, JJ and Charlotte; sister, Clare Hunt, brother, Brendan; in-laws, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. The removal took place from Athlumney to St Mary"s Church, Navan, on Monday evening, with the Funeral Mass yesterday (Tuesday) followed by cremation at Glasnevin Crematorium. ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Michael Diviney, Boardsmill The funeral takes place this afternoon (Wednesday) of well-known Boardsmill farmer, Mr Michael Diviney, who died on Monday morning. Mr Diviney passed away peacefully at his home, having been ill for some time. From Cardiffstown, Kilmessan, Mr Diviney was a talented hurler, and won a number of senior hurling championships with Kilmessan in the late 1940s. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; family, Patrick, Michael, Aidan, Cathriona, and Fiona; sister, Mary Murray, Kilmessan; grandchildren; in-laws; relatives and friends. The removal will take place from his residence to St Brigid"s Church, Boardsmill, for 2pm Mass today (Wednesday), with burial afterwards in St Loman"s Cemetery, Trim.