Stephen was very skilled worker and gardener
THE death occurred suddenly on June 18, 2017, of Stephen Traynor, who passed away peacefully at his home, Saint Alphonsus Villas, Dundalk.
He was a painter and decorator who led a very active and hard-working life, which stretched into his 70s before he retired.
His first job was as a barman, and he was involved in running his father’s bar in Belfast for a number of years until it was destroyed during the early years of the Troubles.
His family was the focus of his life, and he was always there at the end of a phone if any member needed to talk with him.
Stephen was the second eldest of seven sons who comprised the family of the late Thomas and Gertrude Traynor, one of whom, Thomas, sadly died in infancy.
He was also predeceased by three other brothers, Jim, Joe and John, along with his son-in-law, Ronnie McCrave.
Stephen grew up in Roskeagh, Kilcurry, and went to school in Dromintee and then the Old Tech (Technical School) in Dundalk.
He started work as a barman aged 15 in the well-known pub The Jockeys, Anne Street.
A couple of years later, along with his brothers Paddy and John, he took over the running of The Bus Bar in Smithfield, Belfast, on the death of their father at the age of 47.
Before then, Stephen had met May Carroll from Cluan
Enda, and they subsequently married. She was only 18 and Stephen 21 when they exchanged vows in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. They would have celebrated 59 years married in August.
They set up home in Belfast, and it was there that their son, Jim and two daughters,
Grainne and Stephanie, were born.
However, the Troubles had erupted and the family bar was destroyed in 1973 when the brothers were lucky to escape.
Stephen and May returned to their home town with their young family to rebuild their life.
He was more than handy as a painter and decorator, and turned to the trade to make his livelihood.
He continued to work into his 70s, and on retiring remained very active. Gardening was his favourite pastime, and the splendid and colourful back garden at his home is testament to his love of and devotion to his flowers and shrubs.
Stephen loved walking, going out daily about the town in the morning and evening, and was known to many people, as he liked to stop and chat.
He loved music, his favourite singers including Danny Kaye, Dean Martin, Doris Day and Judy Garland, and he listened daily to popular songs performed by them.
He was a keen reader, his regular material being the Reader’s Digest and Ireland’s Own magazines.
He liked poetry, especially the works of WB Yeats and Robert Service. He also kept himself abreast of world affairs and topics of the day.
Stephen’s passing is very deeply regretted by wife, May; son, Jim; daughters, Grainne and Stephanie; brothers, Paddy and Tom; daughter-in-law, Siobhan; and Stephanie’s partner, Phelim.
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Deborah, Conor, Stephen, Aoife, Ryan and Erin; great-grandchildren, Saoirse and Cillian; brothers and sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family, neighbours and friends.
After reposing at his home from the Tuesday, Stephen was taken to Lakelands Crematorium, Cavan, on the Wednesday for cremation.
Tributes were paid to him before departing from his home by grandson, Conor, in the form of letter and a poem which he read, and another poem was read by daughter, Stephanie.
His great-granddaughter, Saoirse, granddaughter, Deborah, nephew, Keith and niece, Marie, led the final tributes at the crematorium.