Geraldine was a hugely popular lady
A large gathering arrived at St Senan’s Church on Thursday to bid a fond and final farewell to Geraldine Crean (61) of Clonhaston Enniscorthy. Extremely well known for her role as Chief Medical Scientist at the Pathology Lab in Wexford General Hospital, Geraldine had bravely battled illness for the past couple of years before sadly passing away on Monday of last week, much to the heartbreak of her husband of 35 years Eddie and beloved children Joanne, Charlie and Jack.
Originally from Sligo, Geraldine (née Horan) studied at the Ursuline Convent before going on to University. The daughter of a pharmacist, she always had an interest in science and it was that very subject that she went on to study in UCD. It was there that she was to meet the love of her life in Eddie. The pair were classmates before Eddie, a former Vice Principal at Coláiste Abbáin in Adamstown, moved back to Wexford to take up a teaching position in New Ross. Geraldine worked for a time at the Virus Reference Lab in UCD and the Blood Bank in Pelican House before making the move to Wexford where she and Eddie got married in 1982, settling down in Rectory Heights where they lived for around ten years before making the move to Clonhaston.
Geraldine began working at the Pathology Lab in Wexford General around 1983 and would work there until her retirement a few years back, eventually becoming Chief Medical Scientist.
‘She was very interested in her work alright,’ said Eddie. ‘Even at difficult times with staff shortages etc, she was tailor made for it. She was very clear thinking, had an analytical approach and was very good in a crisis. She would always keep her head when those around her were losing theirs. She was well-known and well- liked throughout the hospital community by the consultants, nurses, orderlies...they all would have known her and they showed up in force at the funeral, as did people from other hospitals around the country and even people she worked with in Dublin. They all came to pay their respects.’
Geraldine certainly made an impression on a lot of people, carving out a large circle of friends over the years.
‘She wasn’t really a loud person that you would notice enter a room,’ Eddie explained. ‘She was quite quiet, but she seemed to have a knack for making lasting friendships. Whenever she made friends, they stayed friends.’
Together Eddie and Geraldine raised three children to whom Geraldine was a devoted mother.
‘I suppose it goes without saying that she was a devoted mother,’ said Eddie. ‘She was very good at it though. She was always helping them out through education and institutions and with various moves and that and was constantly thinking of them.’
Outside of work and family, two of Geraldine’s main hobbies were yoga and tennis. She was a committee member at Hillbrook Lawn Tennis Club and her fellow club members provided a guard of honour as she was brought to the church ahead of her funeral mass last Thursday.
In July of 2015, Geraldine was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Not one to let the diagnosis take over her life, however, she was operated upon and fought bravely and enjoyed some good months with her family. Almost a year later, however, Geraldine and her family got devastating news that she would have to fight once again after being diagnosed with cancer in the lungs and liver. She received treatment and fought valiantly, but in August she was given some devastating news.
‘She just carried on as normal and took it one day after another,’ said Eddie. ‘She just kept on going forward and never once complained. If anyone asked, she’d tell them she was getting better.’
There was a large turnout at St Senan’s Church on Thursday as mourners arrived from all over the country to pay their respects. After a moving ceremony, Geraldine was laid to rest in Enniscorthy Cemetery. She is sadly missed by her beloved husband Eddie, children Joanne, Charlie and Jack, siblings John and Enda, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.