Community saddened by passing of Annie Conroy
MANY people in our little community were saddened to hear of the passing of Annie Conroy (née Moran) of Stilebawn, who passed away peacefully at her home in her 94th year on Wednesday, April 3.
Annie was the beloved wife of the late Jimmy and loving mother of Shay, Gerry, Alan, Kieran, Seán and the late baby Ann and she will be sadly missed by her loving sons, daughters-in-law Fionnuala, Margaret, Jeanne, Tamara and Paula, grandchildren, extended family and many friends.
Her removal took place from Collier’s to St Mochonog’s Church on Friday evening and her Requiem Mass was Saturday morning followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery where a large crowd gathered to say a last farewell to a lady that was loved in the community.
Annie was born and reared on the Old Long Hill where she ran the family farm and B&B after her dad died when she was just 16. After World War two ended, a handsome man named Jimmy Conroy came from Galway to work on the farm and love blossomed. A decade later they got married and had six children, sadly losing little baby Ann and reared their five boys on the new farm in Stilebawn.
It was back then in the late 50’s they planted their first crop of raspberries and right up to this very day, Conroys Raspberries are as famous as ever. It was lovely to see so many people that recalled picking these raspberries over the years at the funeral there to say a last goodbye to a lady that they all loved.
In later years, Annie was an active member of the Kilmacanogue senior citizens and she loved all the gatherings they organised where you would always see Annie with her life long friend Theresa Lawless and Kathleen Higgins and Sadie Stephens. Annie drove to most of these events up to her 90s and many recall her been one of the first woman drivers in the area.
She adored her grandchildren and was very kind to all children in the area and everyone will have such happy memories of a lovely lady who lived a long and healthy life up to recent times. Rest in Peace Annie, you are now reunited with your beloved Jimmy and just perhaps, in charge of that raspberry crop in the sky, Farewell Annie.