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MARGARET Craven, who died peacefully at her residence at Balriggan, Kilcurry, on 22 March, 2017, was a fun-loving and stylish lady who was the heart of her family.
She passed away after a short illness that she bore with great dignity.
Margaret experienced more than her share of tragedy and sadness, but loved life and didn’t believe in lying under her troubles, rather move on, and that life was for living. She passed on this philosophy among many valuable lessons to her family, the centre of her universe.
Her strength of character and the cheerfulness that she radiated made her sought-after company because of the feel-good factor that she generated.
She was outgoing, and engaged in her community and parish, giving support to local functions and activities.
With her love of dancing, at which she was highly accomplished, she was always first on the floor. She was also a member of the local Active Retirement Group.
Margaret was the third eldest in the family of George and Margaret Savage, who had 14 children, seven daughters and seven sons.
She spent the first 14 years of her life at Rampart Lane in town where the family home was situated.
The family then moved to a newly-built home in Pearse Park, and a whole new phase in Margaret’s life began as she also started work at 14. Like many at the time, she gained employment in Halliday’s factory in the thriving local shoe industry.
She continued to work there until her marriage to Sean Craven, who hailed from Balregan, Kilcurry. His brothers, Paddy and Jim were very well known through their involvement with the stage and theatre.
Sean worked in Harp Lager, and met Margaret in 1955. They married three years later in April, 1958, and a happy marriage lasted nearly 50 years.
They were blessed with a large family of their own. They set up home at Tateetra, where they lived for seven years, and where five of their 10 children were born.
The family moved in 1965 to Sean’s home parish of Kilcurry, settling in Balriggan.
Margaret threw herself wholeheartedly into the role of wife, mother and full-time homemaker, devoting her time to her husband and their children.
It was a busy task, but one in which she was very content, and adept, being renowned for her baking, including buns, apple tarts and especially Christmas cakes.
She made all the wedding cakes for her children and grandchildren, as well as Christening cakes.
Margaret was a resourceful cook, always seeming to manage to have enough in the pot to provide for whoever arrived in her home.
She was constantly there for her family, as well as being a very kind neighbour and good friend. She made many friends in Kilcurry, and maintained the friendships she forged in Tateetra.
Religion was central to her life. She recited the Rosary nightly, and visited on numerous occasions the holy places of Lourdes and Fatima with her life-long friends Bridie and Nancy.
She was proud of her family and their achievements, and never forgot a birthday and always had a treat to hand over, no matter how small. She loved to see the family coming to her home.
The loss of her husband, Sean, son-in-law Francis Kirk and three grandchildren Sean, Karen and Darragh, coupled with great granddaughter Aoife not surviving infancy, were very low points in her life.
But typical of her approach, she never complained, even last July when she received a bad diagnosis regarding her own health.
Margaret was also predeceased by her brothers, Gerard, Bartle, George, Phonsie and Sean and sisters, Geraldine and Marie. Margaret is survived and sadly missed by sons, Malachy (Bay Estate), Pat (Faughart), George (Forkhill), Pearse (Avondale), Sean (Manydown Close),
Raymond (Greenwood Drive) and Gerard (Carlingford); daughters, Margaret Kirk (Kilcurry), Freda McCann (Kilcurry) and Lorraine Browne (Kilcurry); 30 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Paddy and David; and sisters Nancy, Angela, Majella and Martina.
As the lynchpin and central figure of her family, she will be greatly missed by every member, young and old, but they each will retain wonderful memories of Margaret to alleviate the sad and lonely times, and glad for her sake that she was spared much suffering.
After reposing at her home, Margaret was removed to Saint Brigid’s Church. Father Vinod CC celebrated Requiem Mass and gave the eulogy. He was assisted by Father Paddy Stanley SM, Holy Family Parish.
Symbols of her life were presented at the altar by grandchildren, Amy, Therese, Lynn, Nicole, Colleen, Shane, Ben, Gillian and Rachel; and great-grandson, Shea, with the narration provided by Michelle.
The Readings were given by grandsons, Sean and Mark, while the Prayers of the Faithful were led by grandchildren Jack, Gerard, Niamh, Ryan, Scott, Stephen, Niall, Sean and Andrea. Claire and Laura brought the Offertory Gifts to the altar.
A poem for Margaret composed by god-daughter, Monica, was read as a Communion Reflection by her daughter, Lorraine, while grand-daughter Michelle played ‘ The Cloud’s Veil’ on the organ.
Kilcurry Church choir provided the beautiful music and singing and Peter Kirk sang ‘An Irish Blessing’ before the final hymn.
Margaret was interred in the adjoining cemetery.