Funeral of real-life Notebook couple Maire and Gerry after 76yrs together
MOURNERS at the funeral of a real-life Notebook couple who died hours apart were told their relationship was a “beautiful love story”.
Maire and Gerry Ryan, from Newbridge, Co Kildare, passed away on Monday at Curragh Lawn Nursing Home.
The story of the childhood sweethearts has been described as like a version of the hit Hollywood movie The Notebook.
Hundreds of friends and family gathered at St Conleth’s Church in Newbridge yesterday in tribute to the couple who were both 93.
Among those paying their last respects were daughter Geraldine, grandchildren Alan and Sarah, Maire’s sisters Eithne and Una, their brothers-in-law, sistersin-law, nieces and nephews.
A statement released by the family said: “Maire and Gerry were kind, generous and full of life.
“Their dedication to their family and each other was incredible and they will always be in our hearts and thoughts.
“Going together, side by side, is exactly what they would have wanted and is a perfect end to their story.
“We are so proud of them and miss them very much.” Fr Paul Dempsey told the congregation how the pair had lived side by side in both life and death after 76 years as a couple, having been born just one day apart in Tipperary in 1924. They married when they were 26.
He said: “We are all familiar with the saying ‘united in life and united in death’ and it was never so literal as here this morning in St Conleth’s
Church. Gerry and Maire were born within a day of each other, on August 14 and 15, 93 years ago.
“They met at the tender age of 17 when they were doing their Leaving Cert at school in Clonmel and it was the beginning of a beautiful and loving journey spent side by side. “And here they are side by side today.”
Gerry’s nephew Jimmy spoke about his love for his family and how he will be sadly missed. He said: “He would love to be remembered as a loving and caring husband, dad and grandad and that’s exactly what he was. “He would talk at length about the things they were doing. He was so proud.
“And as for Maire, he was so supportive and so proud of all her achievements – in school and all she had done.
“He was just so happy and content in her company. They had been together for 76 years, that’s a lifetime. They weren’t even going to be separated in death.”
Students from Holy Family Secondary School, where Maire had been a teacher and principal, performed a guard of honour as the couple were brought to Clonmel for burial following the service.
Gerry was a retired Army Commandant from Clarke Barracks at the Curragh where he had a successful career before working with State agency FAS.
Maire was a niece of Frank Drohan, leader of the Volunteers in Clonmel in 1916, where Gerry’s father Jim was also a member.
After retiring Maire was diagnosed with a severe strain of Alzheimer’s which led to her devoted husband becoming her full-time carer.
He cared for her in their home for several years, but after developing severe arthritis leaving him unable to walk the couple moved into Curragh Lawn.