Sadness at death of Anne Marie, 38
HUGE CROWDS BID FAREWELL TO 38-YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF 3
FAMILY and friends along with colleagues from An Garda Síochána bid a sad farewell to Garda Anne-Marie O’Gorman in Ferns last Friday morning.
Anne-Marie (née Bolger), a loving mother of three and wife to Noel, passed away suddenly at her home at Abbey Court, Newtown, Ferns, last Tuesday evening.
Her passing caused widespread shock and sadness in the local community in Ferns, as well as within the force where she was a much loved colleague to many, serving in Gorey Garda Station along with her husband Noel. SEE PAGES 2 & 3
The crisp navy blue uniforms of An Garda Síochána stood out in stark contrast to the dull grey skies in Ferns on Friday morning as members of the force gathered from all over Wexford and surrounding counties to bid a fond and final farewell to one of their own. 38 year-old Garda Anne-Marie O’Gorman (née Bolger), a loving mother of three and wife to Noel, passed away suddenly at her home at Abbey Court, Newtown, Ferns on Tuesday evening. Her passing caused widespread shock and sadness in the local community in Ferns, as well as within the force where she was a much loved colleague to many, serving in Gorey Garda Station along with her husband Noel.
The village of Ferns was flooded with mourners on Friday morning as people gathered to pay their respects and Anne-Marie’s garda colleagues did her proud with a guard of honour that stretched the full length of the Main Street. Members of the force arrived from all over Wexford, Wicklow where Anne-Marie had previously been stationed, and further afield, all shocked to their core by the suddenness of her passing. The hearse carrying Anne-Marie’s remains was greeted with bowed heads as it made its way through a sea of navy blue to St Aidan’s Church, Ferns.
The sheer volume of people in attendance was in itself a reflection of just how highly thought of Anne-Marie was, not only within her profession, but within the local community of Ferns. The church was packed to capacity with lines our mourners snaking around the church and to the back, keen to show their support for her heartbroken husband Noel, children Nathen (16), Darragh (5) and Ruby (3) and extended family.
Parish Priest, Fr Richard Redmond, who seven years ago was present to celebrate Anne Marie and Noel’s wedding, was this time faced with the heartbreaking task of carrying out Anne Marie’s funeral service.
‘There’s been a deep sense of shock and sadness over the community here in recent days,’ he said, before welcoming in particular Anne-Marie’s Garda colleagues who had travelled far and wide. Family members brought gifts to the altar which symbolised Anne-Marie’s passions in life. A family photo, her garda cap, a file containing some of her music and a box of tea bags were placed neatly on the altar beside her coffin, draped in the tri-colour.
‘Words are simply inadequate when it comes to explaining what Anne-Marie’s family and friends must feel,’ said Fr Redmond. ‘They were not prepared to lose her so soon and, indeed, she was not prepared to go without saying that final goodbye. When a young woman is taken from us like this, it is a stark reminder we mustn’t take the gift of life for granted.’
Fr Redmond painted a picture of a loving wife, devoted mother and a fantastic colleague who was ‘easy to talk to and a really bubbly person who was easy to reach out to, particularly for those in need’. A gifted musician, Anne-Marie enjoyed passing on some of her musical knowledge to youngsters and she also loved her garden and reading a good book. Fr Redmond said that everyone would have their own treasured memories of Anne-Marie and in time they would be able to look back on them with great
fondness.
Prayers were offered for everyone who called to the family home in recent days, those who offered their support and those who turned up for Anne-Marie’s funeral mass to be there for her grieving family as they tried to come to terms with this terrible tragedy. Following a moving service, which contained plenty of beautiful music which Anne-Marie would have been proud of, husband Noel bravely spoke from the altar.
Noel again thanked everyone who had been there for the family in recent days and spoke of how his ‘world stopped’ last Tuesday upon receiving the call informing him of his wife’s passing. He recalled fond memories of how he and Anne-Marie met through work and of ultimately asking for her father Pat’s permission for her hand in marriage, generating a couple of smiles from the grieving congregation. He recalled how seven years ago in that very church, he and Anne-Marie had taken their vows to become husband and wife. He told the assembled crowd how she was ‘so proud’ of her children. Noel spoke of how Anne-Marie was often a great source of support to friends and colleagues.
‘We all have our share of troubles,’ he said. ‘But Anne-Marie really cared for people and often acted as a confidante and sounding board for her friends and colleagues. She was a generous spirit. She was generous in every way. There was very little chance that any occasion wouldn’t be marked with a card. At home we have boxes and boxes of them, cards for every occasion.’
Noel finished by expressing his love for his dearly departed wife and said that it was now time to ‘send you on your way’. He received a stirring round of applause from a genuniely moved congregation. Following the service, Anne Marie’s coffin, covered in the green, white and gold of the tri-colour, was placed in the back of the hearse and made the journey back up the Main Street, again flanked by uniformed gardaí all the way. Her remains were then taken to St Aidan’s Cemetery where she was laid to rest.
Anne-Marie is survived by her loving husband Noel, beloved children Nathen, Darragh and Ruby, mother and father Margaret and Pat, siblings Caitriona, Philip and Paraic, mother and father-in-law Brigid and Tommie, sister in law Caitriona, brothers-in-law Thomas and John, niece Katelyn, uncles, aunts, relatives, friends and her heartbroken Garda colleagues. May she rest in peace.