COLETTE HART (90) WAS DEVOTED TO HER FAMILY
COLETTE HART, late of Campile and New Ross, was a woman of many talents who worked tirelessly throughout her life in businesses, but above all for her family, who she adored.
Colette passed away peacefully at Cherry Grove Nursing Home on December 21 in the love and care of her sons Joseph, Raymond and Declan.
Colette was born in New Ross into a baking family, the Maher’s of Maher’s Bakery on South Street. Born into a large family of three brothers and four sisters: Dick, Tommy, Martin, Biddy, Sr. Consilio, Lemmy and Alesha, they enjoyed a carefree childhood. Colette attended primary and secondary school in New Ross, working in the bakery increasingly as she got older.
A specialist with icing, Colette’s confectionary skills were in big demand, especially for weddings, Christmas cakes and family occasions.
She enjoyed dancing and met her husband Joe Hart at a ‘ badminton dance’ in New Ross. They were married in October 1955 at a 7 a.m. ceremony and Colette moved in with Joe in Campile, where they had their three sons.
Joe ran Hart’s pub, which was founded in 1884. The third generation Hart to run the establishment, he was helped immensely by Colette, who lent a hand cleaning.
The growing business in the heart of the village, which includes a petrol station, shop, garage and bookmakers, kept the Hart’s busy, but Colette still found time to keep 100 hens, providing eggs for the shops and for her cakes.
Above all Colette loved being out in nature, be it on her bicycle or at the John F Kennedy Arboretum., watching the marvellous sights of the changing seasons along its winding pathways.
She was an excellent knitter and crocheter, making bed sheets in years gone by for her family and latterly knitting jumpers for her sons and grandchildren.
A woman who always held family closest to her heart, she would invite her nephews and nieces out to her home for a week every summer, revelling in their good company.
Colette often helped out in her community, especially with the ICA. A home bird by nature, she loved nothing more than spending time with her family and in later years, most especially her 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Colette’s health took a turn in around 2001 and she spent the following years between Carlford Nursing home in Clonroche and Cherry Grove Nursing Home in Campile, where she spent the final five years of her life. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Joe in 2005.
Colette bore her illness very well right up to her passing on December 21.
Colette was the last member in her generational line but through her love of family the next generation, aware of the importance of family, continue to practice her good habits of hospitality, warmth and strong communication with relatives. A large crowd attended Colette’s funeral Mass in St James’s Church, Horeswood and her burial afterwards in Horeswood Cemetery.
May her gentle soul rest in peace.