Family was very important to Norah
NORAH Woods, Highfield Road, Dublin, and formerly of Knockabbey, Louth Village, died peacefully on 1 December, 2016.
Born in 1920 in New York, Norah lived virtually all her life in Ireland and spent her working career in the Civil Service.
She was the second child of Thomas Woods and Alice Nulty. When she was four years old, the family returned to Ireland, lived in Louth Village before moving to Knockabbey. They were known as the ‘Yankee Woodses’!
Norah was a bright, hard-working, responsible and articulate young girl. She went to secondary school in Saint Louis Convent in Carrickmacross, and won a scholarship to university to UCD.
However, she was unable to avail of it, as she was successful in securing employment in the Civil Service. She moved to Dublin and during her career worked in the Departments of Finance, Labour and Agriculture.
Norah opted to pursue night time study as a mature student in UCD and obtained her degree, making her parents incredibly proud.
She had a huge love of literature and poetry, with a particular love of the work of Patrick Kavanagh, Yeats and Shakespeare. She regularly quoted Hamlet’s soliloquy until very recently.
Norah also had an extraordinary power of recall and could quote poetry from her junior and secondary school days. She also loved nature, plants and botany.
Although she didn’t marry, family was very important to Norah. She was in constant contact with her siblings and nephews and nieces whom she visited in the UK, USA and Australia.
On retiring, she enjoyed engaging in cultural activities, visiting art galleries, and also playing bridge. She was a crossword whiz, even up to days before she died.
She travelled extensively with friends, visiting Russia and Egypt and capitals of interest in Europe.
In her final days, she was surrounded by love and gratitude of her family, who felt privileged to have had her for so long in their lives and thankful for all she did for them.
Norah passed away in the gentle care of Sheila Dillon and the staff of Cedar House Nursing Home, Dublin.
She was predeceased by her brothers, Tommy and MJ; and sisters, Sally and Regina.
She is survived by her younger brother, Frank, Newry; and younger sister, Carmel (Hoga- rth), Glasgow. Her passing is also deeply regretted by her brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great- grandnieces, great-grandnephews, relatives in Louth, Dublin and abroad in the UK, USA and Australia.
After reposing at McGeoughs Funeral Home, Jocelyn Street, Dundalk, Norah was taken to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Louth Village.
Father Sean McArdle PP celebrated Mass and family members participated in bringing up the gifts and symbols of Norah’s life, doing Readings and leading the Prayers of the Faithful.
Norah’s brother Frank recited a poem by Tennyson loved by both.
Norah was interred in the adjoining cemetery where her parents and deceased siblings are laid to rest.
Norah’s Month’ Mind Mass is on 8 January at 10am in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Louth.