Nancyhadawonderfullywarmheart
NANCY Durnin died on 11 December, 2016, just short of her 91st birthday in the tender and loving care of Blackrock Abbey nursing home, where she spent her last five and half years.
Born Ann Nancy Donnelly in Newry, County Down, to parents Michael and May, she was the second of four children. She was predeceased by brother, Kieran Donnelly and sister, Maureen Vernon. Her brother Tom is the only surviving sibling.
The family moved to Dundalk when Nancy was a teenager, and she worked briefly in a local shoe factory.
It was in Dundalk that she met and married her husband James (Jimmy) Durnin, who predeceased her.
Marrying at the age of 19 she assumed the role of homemaker, housewife and mother to six children.
The couple settled in Cluan Enda and Nancy put her considerable domestic skills to the benefit of the family. These skills included knitting at which she was most accomplished, providing knitwear for family and friends both home and abroad.
She also enjoyed baking, setting aside each Sunday and Wednesday for the task of providing brown bread and apple tarts.
She was independent and reserved in her demeanour and somewhat shy, and a non-smoker, and essentially a teetotaller, except for a rare glass of wine on special occasions.
Nancy was meticulous about her dress and general appearance and loved clothes and jewellery, especially her pearls.
She had a great interest in politics and was a member of a local Fianna Fail cumann.
The arrival of grandchildren provided Nancy and Jimmy with great pleasure. Having reared her own children, Nancy took on the task of caring for six of her eighteen grandchildren to allow their parents to continue working.
Looking after the grandchildren kept Nancy busy and gave her great enjoyment.
One of granddaughters, Marie, who lives in Tralee, recalls ‘Remembering Nanny when she used to sing along to the radio and do a few dance steps across the kitchen floor when she was cooking dinner, and all the wonderful summer holidays that we were so lucky to spend with Nanny and Grampy’.
Nancy and Jimmy went on their first holiday abroad when Jimmy retired from his job as a train driver. Their first trip saw them take the short flight to London and completing the journey to Spain by train. They continued their annual trips to Spain until both became ill in 2003.
On the death of her beloved husband, Nancy’s health deteriorated and eventually resulted in her requiring full-time care. She became a resident of Blackrock Abbey nursing home in May 2011, and was looked after with great care and dignity.
She reposed at her daughter, Una’s residence, before being taken to St. Joseph’s Redemptorist Church for Requiem Mass. Fr Eamon Kavanagh CSsR was the celebrant, and afterwards Nancy was laid to rest in Saint Patrick’s Cemetery, Dowdallshill.
During the Mass, personal gifts symbolising her life, including a photograph of Jimmy and her knitting needles and ball of wool, were laid before the altar by granddaughter, Grainne and grandson, Sean.
The Readings were given by son, Pat and Amy, wife of the deceased’s grandson. Grandsons, David Crowley along with David, Stephen, Niall and James Durnin led the Prayers of the Faithful.
The Offertory Gifts were taken up by daughter, Una and daughter-in-law Alie. The music was provided by organist, Trevor Clarke and singer, Margaret Brennan.
Month’s Mind Mass is on Sunday, 22 January, 2017 at 12.30pm in Saint Joseph’s Redemptorist Church.