Molly McCauley was agent le lady with a heart filled with love
THE death of Molly McCauley last Wednesday has left a huge void in the lives of all who knew her.
96-year-old Molly died at Middletown House Nursing Home, Riverchapel.
Born in June 1920 in Naas, Co Kildare Molly was the daughter of Jack and Margaret Hanlon. She was educated in Mount Mellick through Irish and was a very keen Irish speaker. In her youth she regularly went to the Gaeltacht area of Spiddal and she retained a strong love of the Irish language throughout her life.
Molly met Gerry McCauley in Dublin and the couple married in 1945. Together they reared seven children, the late Marie, Jim, Garry, Sam, Margaret, Rory and Paddy. The couple moved to Enniscorthy in 1953 and took over the Brooke Kelly pharmacy and opened under GB McCauley Pharmacy in 21 Rafter Street.
Four of the couple’s children went on to work in the pharmacy business with Sam and Paddy training as pharmacists while Margaret and the late Marie worked as pharmacist technicians.
Molly herself worked in the chemist alongside Gerry and often opened the doors long after closing time to fill a prescription for a person in need. Molly and Gerry lived on Church Street for more than 40 years before moving to Rectory Road.
A woman of great faith Molly was a regular Mass goer, first in the Cathedral and in later years in St Senan’s Parish. Leading by example, her faith was seen in the way she lived her life and the gentle way she had with people.
She was very involved in the community and was a familiar and kind face to everyone who knew her.
Molly was an accomplished tennis and golf player. She was a member of Enniscorthy Golf Club and won the Ladies Captain and President’s prize over the years. She also had a great interest in current affairs and was very aware of local, national and international events.
Molly was also a keen knitter and could always be relied on over the years to knit a beautiful gift for her 29 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren. Molly also loved to read and she also enjoyed walking.
At the age of 72 years Molly took up bridge and played in Bellefield where she proved to be very accomplished. She enjoyed the games immensely and had, in younger days, always enjoyed playing 45.
Her many pursuits and interests were remembered during her funeral mass when gifts of knitting needles, a book, a golf club and a pestle and mortar were offered up in her memory.
Despite her many interests Molly was very much a family orientated woman and it was to her family that she devoted her energies. A very gentle and unassuming woman, Molly will be remembered as a lady with no airs and graces but with a heart filled with love.
She moved to Middletown Nursing Home in Gorey nine years ago and despite her ill health she always had a smile. She showed great courage and dignity in the face of ill health and the staff at Middletown said that Molly had always been exceptionally gracious and thankful to them for their care.
Molly was predeceased by her husband Gerry in 1999 and their oldest child Marie in 2012. Although their deaths caused her great sadness Molly showed great fortitude and lavished even more love and attention onto the rest of the McCauley family.
Molly’s death last week marked the end of an era for both the McCauley and Hanlon families of that generation as she was the last surviving member of that time.
However with 29 grandchildren and 32 and counting great grandchildren both Molly and Gerry have left behind quite a legacy, both personally and professionally.
Molly’s funeral Mass took place in St. Aidan’s Cathedral on Friday with burial afterwards in St Mary’s Cemetery.