Outgoing Maud was centrally involved in her local community throughout her life
MAUD Coleman, Park Drive, Dundalk died peacefully on May 27th last in the tender care of the staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda just short of her 90th birthday.
Maud lived practically all her life at Park Drive and over the years was centrally involved in the community there for which she was a strong advocate through her involvement with the local residents association and engagement in politics.
She was a former chairman of the Inner Demesne Residents Association and of the Sean Halpin Fianna Fail cumann and had a life long interest in politics. She stood as an independent candidate for the Urban Council and was short a half a dozen votes from being elected.
Maud was a very outgoing and very well known and regarded lady who worked for years as an advertising representative with the Dundalk Democrat and had a very deep attachment to the local St. Joseph’s Redemptorist Church where she fulfilled her strong religious convictions.
Mass at 12.30 pm on a Sunday was a constant fixture in her routine and always attended St. Gerard’s novena. She also gave freely of her time to helping in the Redemptorist community’s social and fund raising activities.
She was also well known through her role as a Peace Commissioner.
Maud was no more than four or five when her late parents Elizabeth and Patrick Carroll moved into the family residence ‘Saint Anne’s’ and apart from a brief spell in Hill Street after her marriage to John Coleman resided there all of her years.
She was one of two daughters in her family, and obtained her education in the nearby Friary School before entering the workplace.
She gained employment in Melbers, the then well known pork butchers shop in Clanbrassil Street, and over a very active and hard working life worked in various roles after returning to work when her two daughters grew older.
She spent a while in the ECCO electronics factory, National Pen and also was employed as a Lollipop Woman before joining the Dundalk Democrat in the capacity of an advertising representative and after which she retired.
She was an excellent cook and housekeeper who was very organised and kept her home meticulously ensuring it was clean and tidy at the end of the day to start off the next day.
Husband, John hailed from Mountpleasant and worked as a postman in the rural district before moving into the main post office in town. The couple married in 1957, and spent 44 years together before John passed away.
In her younger years Maud enjoyed ceili dancing. She retained an abiding interest in politics, with RTE’s ‘Week in a Politics’ on a Sunday night one of her favourite television programmes, and assiduously followed Leaders Questions in the Dail on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
In her latter years she enjoyed watching cookery and quiz shows, and spent hours doing word searches. She loved Gaelic games, both football and hurling, and was a keen supporter of the Dubs.
Following husband John, she was also predeceased three years ago by her only sister, Nancy Harrison.
Although ill for a while her passing was still unexpected.
She will be sadly missed by her daughters, Anita and Brid, grandson, Sean and his partner, Sarah, other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Orlaith and Fionn, brother-in-law, Brendan, niece and nephew, Catriona and Paul Harrison, relatives and friends.
After reposing at home Maud’s remains were removed on the Monday to St. Joseph’s Church, with the cortege pausing outside her former place of work Dundalk Democrat on the way.
Requiem Mass was concelebrated by Rev. Willie McGettrick CSsR., Belfast and his brother, Rev. Albert McGettrick, CSsR, Brazil, along with fellow Redemptorist Fathers Pat Reynolds, Cherry Orchard , Dublin, Rev. Cathal Cumiskey, Rev. Brendan Callahan Rev. Brian McGrath, Rev. Pat Horgan all Dundalk.
The family are also grateful to Rev.Pat Sugrue, CSsR., who regularly attended and brought Holy Communion to Maud.
The Offertory gifts were taken up by her grandson, Sean and great-granddaughter, Orlaith. The beautiful music and hymns were provided by organist Brendan McCourt andsinger Sarah McCourt. Burial took place in Saint Patrick’s cemetery.