The late Mrs Gracie Foley

THE recent death of Mrs Gracie Foley (nee O’Grady), formerly of Newtownbarry, Charleville evoked widespread regret in the town and area, and indeed further afield, where she was a hugely popular figure. A member of a long established and highly respected local family, Gracie was the wife of Jim Foley, the highly rated and talented musician and businessman in Charleville, where he is the current musical director of St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band.

Jim and Gracie were devoted to one another since their wedding in London almost sixty years ago and were wonderful parents to their family of three sons, Joe, Jamesie and Paudie and daughters Brenda and Valerie. Jim and Gracie lived in the tight neighbourhood of the Glen area of the town and their home was a place of welcome, music and hospitality, which, when visiting, one was always put at ease and treated as a family member.

But 11, Newtownbarry was always in her heart and she would visit every day. Sit at the table, talk and drink tea and eat Nana’s cake bread. She loved her brothers Sean, Frank and Tommy and she adored her father Paddy and loved being an O’Grady. Because of all the music around her, at the age of 50 she asked Jim to teach her the saxophone, and he did. She used to get in trouble with the bandmaster having a laugh with the lads at the back. Gracie loved the practice nights and the days out with the band as it gave her more time with Jim and the family. The first grandchildren started to appear around this time, 13 in all and one great grandchild, and she was in her element. She also had 7 nieces and nephews.

The past two years had been very difficult for her. She hoped that things would get better but it was not to be. Her children Joe, Brenda, Jamesie, Paudie and Valerie will remember her as a wonderful mother who loved to dance a foxtrot or a quickstep, sing, joke, mock, who loved sport of all kinds, but hurling especially if Cork or Charleville were playing. Jim will remember her as a wonderful wife, full of romance who adored him all those years and will wait for him on the other side.,

The sympathy of a grateful local community went out to Jim and his family when news of her death was announced. She is survived by her widower Jim, sons Joe, Jamesie and Paudie, daughters, Brenda, and Valerie, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and other relatives, to whom sincere sympathy is extended on their sad loss.

If I should die before the rest of you. Break not a flower, nor inscribe a stone. Nor when I’m gone speak in a Sunday voice. But be thy usual selves that I have known.

Weep if you must. Parting is Hell But life goes on. So sing as well.