COMMUNITY NOTES: NORTH MAYO - WESTERN PEOPLE (NOVEMBER 25 EDITION)
Many fond memories of the late Madeline Walsh, Gurteenamuck, were recalled during her 11am concelebrated Mass in Christ the King Church, Knockmore, on Wednesday morning, November 5.
Symbol reminders of her long and generous life were brought to the altar by family members at the beginning of the Mass.
During the homily, she was remembered as a kind and generous person, a woman of great faith and devotion to prayer who worked hard together with her late husband Willie to rear their famly of eight. She was a great neighbour and had a great welcome for all who visited with no one leaving without a welcome cup of tea.
In later years, she enjoyed many happy occasions with her ever expanding family and almost to the end enjoyed a great quality of life. She was always surrounded by family who lovingly cared for her and enabled her to live at home until her final days.
Born in Knockmore in 1928, she was daughter of the late Michael and Mary Rochford (nee Coleman) and was a member of a family of ten. She lived to experience a reunion of the Rochford and Coleman families that commenced with a Special Mass celebrated in Knockmore Church on August 29 last and was the last remaining member of her family and generation.
Madeline, who had reached her 97th year, went to her eternal reward on Friday, October 30, surrounded by her family, in Mayo University Hospital following a short illness.
She was pre-deceased by her husband Willie and daughter Mary, and is survived by her beloved family - daughters Ann, Christina and Carmel; sons John, Michael, Liam and Tommy; fourteen grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, nephews, nieces, her faithful neighbours and friends to whom deepest sympathy is extended.
