Popular Patsy Rice was a man of great integrity, trust and love
DROGHEDA said goodbye to a ‘ true gentleman’ last week, with the death of Patsy Rice from Ballsgrove.
And it was truly fitting that the community of the place he called home lined their gardens in a final farewell to a wonderful campaigner and fundraiser for a series of charities and good causes around the region.
And it was fitting that his final journey was to St Peter’s where he married the love of his life, the late Rosie, almost 60 years ago.
His son, Mattie, spoke movingly of his father, a faultless timekeeper, a stickler for rules and a man who worked every hour he could to make sure his family could enjoy a good life, something his children and grandchildren clearly appreciated.
Patsy spent much of his working life in BD, becoming a shop steward and always seeing both sides of the story when it came to industrial relations. ‘ He could always see both sides,’ Mattie stated.
He then worked in the bar trade and enjoyed that too, meeting many people.
A Bothar Brugha native, Ballsgrove was home for 55 years and he loved every part if it. Neighbours were almost family and left everyone with ‘incredibly fond memories’.
Mattie said three words could probably sum him up, ‘integrity, trust and love’ and he had all three in abundance.
His colleagues and co-workers in the Drogheda branch of the Alzheimer Society were devastated by his demise.
They spoke of his determination, great leadership and motivational skills which inspired them.
And they resolved to continue his work to establish a new Day Care Centre in the town for Alzheimer sufferers.
While his health was failing him in the past few years, Patsy remained a doughty fighter until the last. He was chairman of the Alzheimer branch for a number of years.
He was succeeded in the past few years by Noel Heeney who said : ‘’I took over from Patsy when he first became ill and, typical of the man, he made it easy for me.
‘’He was a great motivator and gave me every possible assistance and the benefit of his great experience.
‘’Patsy was one of nature’s best and was just so dedicated to the cause of improving the lot of Alzheimer sufferers in whatever way he could.
‘’He was a tireless worker and we will continue to try to achieve the goals he set, ‘’ said Mr Heeney.
Patsy’s driving ambition was to see the new Day Care centre come to fruition.
His long-time co-worker Ann Shortt who currently heads the branch’s fund-raising committee said : ‘’ if it wasn’t for Patsy’s persistence and refusal to give up, we wouldn’t have got the site for our new centre at Greenhills.
‘’Even after his retirement, he was always involved and helping to advance the quest for a new centre, ‘’ she said
Ms Shortt said Patsy would be ‘’sorely missed’’ by his many colleagues and friends who admired him.
All the members and friends of the group expressed their sympathy to his children, Peggy, Matty, Geraldine and Pat, and to his extended family.