Theresa was deeply involved in community throughout life
Theresa Donnelly (née Maguire) aged 89, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on Saturday 4 April 2020. Theresa would have celebrated her 90th birthday today, Tuesday 15 December.
Born in Newry, Theresa was one of six children to the late Bernard and Julia Maguire. In 1933, the family moved to Bundoran where they lived for a number of years. It was during this time that she developed her great love of Donegal and regularly returned over the intervening years.
As a teenager, Theresa and her family moved to Drogheda where she met and married Tony Donnelly in 1950. In 1962, Tony and Theresa moved to Ravensdale, Dundalk where they lived for the remaining years of their lives raising their eight children; Brian, Kathleen, Mary, Yvonne, Teresa, Irene, Andrew and Jayne.
During her lifetime, Theresa developed many hobbies and interests. She was a wonderful housewife and loved cooking, baking, sewing and knitting. She was also a keen gardener and interior decorator, as well as caring for her family. Theresa was an avid reader and loved to do the daily crossword.
She was made Honorary President of Shelbourne Football Club after her husband Tony died, and regularly enjoyed a Friday night travelling with her grandchildren to Tolka Park to watch the matches.
In her latter years Theresa developed her IT skills and spent many hours on Facebook keeping in contact with her family and friends.
Theresa, along with her good friend Maureen McKeown were founding members of the Dundalk Branch of Cystic Fibrosis. They organised numerous flag days, church gate collections and charity walks. A highlight of their charity work was the Annual Christmas Draw in the Friary Hall.
As an active member in her local community, Theresa was a member of the St Vincent de Paul
Society, the Meals on Wheels association as well as a very generous supporter of all charity events held in the parish.
She especially enjoyed the many coffee mornings in aid of breast cancer and the Apostolic Workers and was also a great friend to the Franciscan sisters in Mount Oliver.
Theresa had a deep faith and regularly attended Mass in her local church and was a Eucharistic Minister for many years. She also took her turn to clean the church roping in the help of her grandchildren on many occasions.
Coming from a musical background, Theresa loved music and encouraged all her children to learn an instrument. She especially valued the years that Fr. Brendan Mc Nally spent teaching them the violin, and often spoke about the positive and lasting influence he had on her, and her children. Over the years Fr. Brendan became a very close family friend.
Theresa was predeceased by her husband Tony, son Brian, daughter Mary O’Connell and son-in-law Frank Tinney.
She is survived by her brother Tommy, sisters-in-law Bridie Maguire and Dolores O’Donavan, daughters- in-law Una Donnelly and Margaret Donnelly, sons-inlaw Dan O’Connell, Jimmy McArdle and Jonathan Graham as well as twenty-seven grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, and large family circle. She was especially close to her cousin and dear friend Nancy McGeown.
Theresa passed away in her own home and was waked by her close family. Her large extended family were only able to be present at the funeral Mass virtually via Zoom due to Covid-19.
Theresa’s Requiem Mass was celebrated by Fr. Stephen Duffy in St Mary’s Church, Ravensdale on 6 April and was live streamed for those who could not attend in person due to the restrictions at that time.
The family hopes to have a Memorial Mass to celebrate Theresa’s life at a later date.