Ann had a caring and loving nature
THERE was widespread sadness felt in Enniscorthy with the passing of Ann O’Leary from Gimont Avenue.
Ann was born on February 28, 1946, and was the sixth child of eight who lived to adulthood, born to William and Mary O’Connor, at 38 St Aidan’s Villas, Enniscorthy.
Ann had strong family connections with Enniscorthy; her grandparents on her mother’s side were from the Shannon while her on her father’s side they were from Marshalstown.
Her family roots in Enniscorthy went back generations.
Ann married Michael O’Leary, of Irish Street, Enniscorthy, in 1968 and they moved to Irish Street and started a family.
The couple raised three children there, Derek, Susan and Billy, before leaving Enniscorthy for a brief period when they went to the Ballagh and then Carnew from mid-1984 until early 1989.
Ann was a nurse by profession and she worked first in St Senan’s Psychiatric Hospital.
She completed her general nursing training in Baggot Street, Dublin.
She worked as a nurse thereafter in Wexford General Hospital and remained there until 1989 when the family emigrated to Slough in England.
Ann worked at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, where she progressed from nurse, to sister and finally to Unit Manager.
She retired from nursing in 2013. However, such was her caring nature that she continued nurturing by fostering children from disadvantaged communities, until she returned to Ireland in October 2014.
After returning to Ireland, Ann trained to become a reiki master. She was always a spiritual person and loved exotic scents and incenses.
A major theme in her life was nurturing, healing and caring. She also had the same passion for her hobbies.
She loved gardening, had a great capacity to nurture plants and flowers, and her other hobbies included painting, sunbathing and listening to music.
However, the most important thing in her life was her family. She loved spending time not just with her immediate family, but also with her siblings, nieces and nephews.
Family gatherings were the occasions Ann most enjoyed and she also loved to spend time with her grandchildren, Sinead, Orla, Fiona, Deon and Lisa.
Ann was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2019, and despite a brave fight she passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving husband, children, granddaughter and siblings. She is dearly loved and missed by her family.
A memorial mass to celebrate Ann’s life will be held on a future date.
She is survived by her husband, Michael, children, Derek, Susan and Billy, their partners, her grandchildren, Sinead, Orla, Fiona, Deon and Lisa, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.