Bridiewasanexceptionallady whoalwaysputherfamilyfirst

BRIDIE Moley, of Rassan, Hackballscross, who died peacefully in Louth County Hospital on August 28 last, was a lady who made the exceptional sacrifice to take over as the lone parent to her brother’s four young children.

She stepped in without so much as a thought to fill that role, and carry on with not a murmur of demur when her brother and his wife died within six weeks of each other.

Bridie was happily settled into a life of her own in Nottingham, where she spent 23 years after emigrating in the 1950s.

But when the emergency call came from her ill brother Artie and his wife Winnie that it was their wish she care for their children, Bernadette, Sandra, Gerard and Sean, she literally jumped on a plane, leaving behind her friends, job and a house.

Bridie picked up the strings, and flung herself wholeheartedly into a totally new and extremely challenging position, looking after her nieces and nephews, who ranged in age from 11 to 17.

She was motivated or undoubtedly influenced by her own upbringing, both her parents dying when she was very young.

Her generosity and selflessness also extended to assisting in the raising of her grandniece, Gemma, and she was granny to the next generation in her family after her nieces and nephews.

Bridie was like a mother, housewife and cook who always had breakfast, dinner and tea on the table. There was no job she would not tackle around the house to keep it clean and tidy, from sweeping the yard to cutting the ditches along the side of the main Dundalk - Castleblayney Road.

Until four years ago, into her 80th year she was lawnmower.

She loved listening to the radio, which she put on first thing in the morning. But she was so busy, she had no time to sit down during the day because of the daily chores.

Only at 6 o’clock would she sit down and put on the news on the television. It was a busy house where neighbours enjoyed ceilis, and close friends Claire, Kathleen, Rita and Declan called in and helped care for her in latter times.

In her quiet, determined way, Bridie just got on with what she had to do, and it was a source of real and deep sadness to members of her family, that she was dogged by poor health as the years passed.

She suffered two major heart attacks, then was diagnosed with cancer and culminated in her suffering a stroke two years still starting and using a ago. This was after she broke a hip, from which she bounced back.

As a result of the stroke, she lost the power of her left side, couldn’t walk and was house-bound.

It was then those family members who owed her so much gratitude, tried to repay her in some way by taking care of her, without being able to provide the one thing she wanted which was to walk.

She needed to spend eleven weeks in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital before being transferred to the Louth County Hospital, where she died after a few days.

Bridie hailed from the Hackballscross area, the only daughter of the late Alice and James Moley, who also had two sons. Jemmie died six years ago. Arthur and his wife passed away in 1980, with such far-reaching ramifications for their four children and Bridie, who was then predeceased by her niece, Bernadette.

Bridie attended school in Courtbane NS. After completing her education, she did housework, working in the locality and Dundalk.

She went to England in her early 30s, and settled in Nottingham, where she worked with Rolls Royce, making ball bearings. She also was employed in British Home Stores and then Boots.

Her passing is greatly regretted by her nieces Gemma, Sandra and Christine, nephews, Gerard and Sean, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives and friends, all of whom hold cherished memories of her, and share a deep loss that can never be filled.

After reposing at her home, the removal of Bridie’s remains took place to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Shelagh.

Father Barney King CC celebrated Requiem Mass and delivered the eulogy.

Month’s Mind Mass is on Sunday, September 25 at 11am in Shelagh Church.