OBITUARIES Mickey’s life spent helping community
THE death occurred of Michael (Mickey) Fleming, ‘Rock View’, Chambersland, New Ross, on August 8 in University Hospital Waterford.
A native of Shanbough, County Kilkenny, Mickey was born on March 28, 1935. He started work as an electrician at a key time of Ireland’s Rural Electrification Scheme in the 1950s, working first for Joe Ward of Mary Street, New Ross, and then with Michael Kavanagh Electrical in Waterford.
In 1979 he went out on his own as an electrical contractor with Flemings Electrical and he was known for his work ethic and attention to detail.
He married Maureen Hayden in 1964 and moved to New Ross, but remained a proud Kilkenny man all his life, keenly following the Kilkenny hurlers to many All Ireland victories. He also had an interest in many other sports.
Mickey had a lifelong association with St Michael’s Theatre, New Ross, where he provided electrical and technical services for pantomimes, plays and Tops of the Town.
In recent years he continued to be involved with audience ushering duties. He was a pioneer all his life and placed great importance in community involvement and civic mindedness.
Known for his organisational skills, Mickey co-ordinated several charity collections, drove for the Meals on Wheels, was a member of the New Ross Active Retirement group and was active in church circles.
A man of deep faith with particular devotion to Marian shrines, Mickey was a key member of the Irish Children’s Pilgrimage Trust, initially as a helper and then as team leader with Group 129. He travelled with them regularly to Lourdes. Lough Derg, Croagh Patrick, Knock and Our Lady’s Island and further afield to Fatima and the Holy Land.
Mickey enjoyed meeting his friends and having a game of cards, particularly in the YMCA Hall and in Ballykelly. He passed away peacefully at University Hospital Waterford aged 82 in the love and care of his family and hospital staff, on August 8.
Huge numbers paid their respects in Cooney’s Funeral Home with prayers led by Mons. Lory Kehoe. Guards of Honour were provided by Group 129 of the ICPT and New Ross Active Retirement group as Mickey’s remains were received by Fr Roger O’ Neill in St Mary’s and St Michael’s Parish Church, New Ross.
The late Mickey Fleming
The following day, Requiem Mass was offered by Mgr Joe McGrath, assisted by Fr Hugh O’Byrne and Fr Tomás Kehoe.
Mickey was laid to rest in Rosbercon cemetery in the presence of a large gathering of family, neighbours and friends to the strains of ‘ The Rose of Mooncoin’.
Mickey is survived by his loving wife Maureen; daughters Margaret, Martina, Pauline and Helen; son Michael; grandchildren Saoirse, Conor, Orla, Michael, Matthew and Caoimhe; sons-in-law Seán, PJ, Eric and Keith; daughter-in-law Georgina; sisters Bridget Waters and Mary Hannigan; nephews Seamus and Michael Waters and extended family and friends.
Mickey’s month’s mind Mass will be held in St Mary’s and St Michael’s Parish Church, New Ross, on Sunday, September 10, at midday.
May his gentle soul rest in peace. MARY WHITE (née Davey) passed away peacefully at her home, in the loving care of her family, on Wednesday, August 9.
Born on November 9, 1945, to Mike and Frances Davey, she was the fourth of their five children and sister to Margie, Kitty, Dai and Michael.
Mary grew up on the family farm in Bannow. After leaving school she trained as a pastry chef and worked at the Tower Hotel in Waterford, a place where she made many lifelong friends.
Mary’s heart was stolen in 1967 at a dance in The Olympia Waterford on Easter Sunday night. Three years later, on July 30, 1970, she married her beloved husband Willie at Grantstown Priory. They began married life in St. Leonards, where she lived for the remainder of her life.
Mary was always entrepreneurial and in the early years of their marriage she used her pastry skills to sell homemade confectionary in the small shop she opened at her home. 1974 saw Willie and Mary move from their two bed cottage with their three small children – Michael, Louise and Kathleen.
It was a short move to their new home, the old school in St. Leonards, only next door. The shop moved too and the additional space allowed for further expansion and offering a more extensive range of groceries, drapery etc.
Mary and Willie went on to have a further five children – Annette, Frank, William, Margaret and Brendan. In addition to running the shop, the successful team of Mary and Willie, ran a busy market garden, with Mary delivering to many businesses in Wexford during the Eighties and Nineties. Industrious and never one to stand still, she and Willie adapted to changing times and later years saw the nursery business develop as the shop closed and the market garden reduced.
Customers returned year after year to have their boxes and baskets planted by Mary, and Willie often felt people called for the chat as much as for the flowers.
Mary could turn her hand to anything, from running up a pair of curtains, upholstering a chair, or feeding an unannounced crowd. Her talents were endless and she inspired many to ‘give it a go’, showing her kind nature.
Hard work was something she was well used to, and the importance of which she instilled in her children. However, despite the workload Mary always had great time for people. Her home was an open one, with the kettle rarely cool. She loved to cook and bake all of her life and the many visitors to her home over the years invariably left a little heavier than they arrived!
She loved children, and always welcomed the visits of her 13 grandchildren and her many grandnieces and grandnephews. Her toy press and goody box were always full – St. Leonards was a great place for a child to visit. Mary always impressed the importance of education to her children. Both she and Willie worked hard to ensure each of their eight children had educational opportunities. Mary herself undertook further education later in life – attaining a Certificate in Horticulture having successfully completed a three year part time course under the late Jim Kelleher.
Although living all her life in her native Wexford, Mary saw much of the world on the holidays she took with Willie. The pair travelled to many parts, including Canada, Australia, China, Cuba and South Africa.
Mary was very sociable and loved to be out and about chatting to people. This was evident in her regular attendance at card games and in more recent times bingo. In previous years she was a regular supporter of Wexford Pony Club where she encouraged many of her children to develop their skills, in addition to ensuring no one was short of a cup of tea from her infamous flask. Known for her candid manner she will be fondly remembered as one of life’s great characters. Her energy and positive outlook were to be admired. Even in the latter days she fought hard and got on with life, adapting to her changing circumstances. Sitting back or retiring were not options for her and she continued to work hard preparing many of the flower orders earlier this year.
Mary is sadly missed by her loving family, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sistersin-law, relatives and friends.
May her gentle soul rest in peace.