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THE high esteem in which Sarah (May) Jones of Pallas, Gorey, was held was evident by the huge attendance at her removal and funeral in Kilanerin recently.
May passed away surrounded by her family at Gorey District Hospital on Friday, May 19. She was born on May 26, 1938, in Castlelands, Kilanerin, daughter of Michael and Margaret (Ciss) Hughes and sister of Paddy, Mike and Jim.
Though christened Sarah, she was always known as May, a pet name given to her shortly after her birth.
In August 1958, May moved just two miles up the road to Pallas when she married Aidan Jones and it was in Pallas she would reside for the remainder of her life. They had five children – John, Mary, Michael, Margaret and Pat.
For 28 years, May and Aidan farmed in Pallas and spent many an enjoyable day attending local shows where they exhibited their Hereford cattle, a tradition carried on by their sons and grandsons to this day.
While May helped out with the running of the farm, milking the cows, and bucket feeding the calves, she also had her own little industry selling eggs to neighbours and friends for many years but unfortunately a visit from Mr Fox destroyed her business venture.
In 1986, May suffered heartbreak with the loss of her husband Aidan.
May was always very active in her community and helped out neighbours and friends in whatever way she could. She was always a willing worker at all functions in the Shamrock Hall Kilanerin and also at the annual field day.
She was a Eucharistic minister in St Peter and Paul’s Church Kilanerin and took great pride in being able to assist at Mass whenever she was called upon.
May was never one to travel or take holidays, but would always get in a trip to Knock in the year. Many a night was spent with her friends at bingo in Craanford and Gorey. She loved attending GAA matches and took great pride in watching her brothers, sons and daughters and grandsons line out for Kilanerin. She was often consulted on the sideline for the score in the matches as she kept track with her pen and paper.
She was a very sociable, outgoing friendly woman which was clear to see judging by all the wonderful friends both young and old she met over the years.
May’s Funeral Mass took place in St Peter and Paul’s Church, Kilanerin, on Monday, May 22. The main celebrant Fr Denis Browne PP was assisted on the altar by her cousin Fr Patrick Sinnott; Fr Jimmy Moynihan, PP Newbawn; Fr Michael Byrne, PP Bree; Fr Martin Casey, PP Carnew; and Fr Patrick O’Brien, retired PP Kilanerin. Also in attendance were Fr William Howell, PP Gorey, and Fr Bobby Kavangh, Kiltegan.
May is survived by her sons John (Pallas), Michael (Bree), Pat (Pallas), daughters Mary Foley (Newbawn), and Margaret (Pallas), daughters-inlaw Norah, Mairead, and Breda Jones, son-in-law Tom Foley, her grandchildren Aidan, Denis, Fiona, Niall, Eamonn, Sarah, Michael, Conor and Padraig, sisters-in-law Mary Doyle, Mary, Ann and Carmel Hughes nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Ár Dheis Dé go raibh a anam.