Wonderful couple Ciss and Paddy died one week apart
HUSBAND AND WIFE Ciss and Paddy Redmond from Ballywilliam passed away within one week of each other recently.
Ceceilia (Ciss) Coleman grew up within a half a mile from Paddy and the two were great friends prior to becoming an item. They would have been 65 years married on Sunday, having gotten married in Rathnure Church on September 24, 1952.
Ciss was the daughter of Pat and Susan Coleman. She was raised in Rathnure, where she attended the national school, after which she worked for farmers in the locality.
She had two brothers, Thomas, who died in infancy and John who predeceased her.
She lived with Paddy at her mother’s house for a time, before settling in Ballygalvert. The couple had seven children, Mary, Susan, Cecilia, P. J., Ann, John and Anthony.
Ciss loved socialising and playing bingo and doing word searches.
She also couldn’t be without her soaps.
She lived a very simple life and had am 83-year friendship with he dear friend Betty Kehoe since she was a child.
For Ciss, nothing mattered more than her 23 grandchildren and 17 great-grand- children. She adored spending time with them, attending their performances in pantomimes and all their special occasions.
Ciss regularly attended Mass in Rathnure and was a woman of great faith.
Paddy was born in Poulpeasty to Mary and Paddy Redmond. He had four brothers, Peter (who died in 1973), the late Thomas, and twins John (RIP) and Stephen. but grew up in Forristalstown.
He attended Poulpeasty NS before going on to work in local farms.
Paddy then went on to work as a lorry driver for Roche’s of Ballyanne travelling from Limerick to Ballyanne every day. He also worked for Willie Roche of Rosbercon and at Shelburne Co-op.
An avid gardener, his spuds were legendary and everyone commented on how neat and uniform his garden was.
A man of strong opinions, Paddy was well informed and read the newspaper every day. He didn’t like watching television, save for the news, which was on in the house in Ballygalvert every evening.
While Ciss was a quiet, calm presence in the house, Paddy was the motivating influence.
He enjoyed a large bottle of Guinness and a cigarette in his local in the days when both were permitted.
Ann said it was surreal to lose both parents within the space of one week.
Ciss suffered some ill health in recent years. She moved into the New Houghton Hospital in February where Paddy would visit her.
When Paddy died at Wexford General Hospital on August 28, Ciss’s health failed rapidly and doctors said she died of a broken heart on September 5 at the hospital.
Lare crowds attended both Paddy and Ciss’s funeral Masses at St. Anne’s Church in Rathnure.
Ciss was laid to rest beside her beloved Paddy in Rathnure Cemetery.
May their gentle souls rest in peace.