Hannah remembered as a ‘beautiful lady’
HANNAH Barrett (née O’Connor), Greenville, Listowel, died at home on April 7, surrounded by her loving husband, Tom, and her family.
Hannah was born on April 24, 1934, and raised in the home farm of her beloved Cool. It was here under the influence of her father, Patrick O’Connor, and her mother, Jane Kissane, that Hannah developed her love of nature, gardening, animal welfare and the joy of the great outdoors.
She shared her idyllic childhood with her three brothers, John Joe, Ned and Jimmy; and her four sisters, Mary, Jane, Bridie and Teresa.
Hannah met the love of her life, Tom, in Listowel and many a poem and story has been written and told of this fateful encounter. The love they shared and the bond they created has lasted a lifetime.
This love of theirs has been an inspiration and a revelation to all who have witnessed it. Love, loyalty, respect, honour, gratitude, kindness and a deep faith has been the framework by which Tom and Hannah lived their lives. Hannah always said, “I will mind Tom and Tom will mind me” and that unbreakable trust never wavered.
They were husband and wife, parents, grandparents, best friends, soul-mates and co-conspirators in mischievous fun and the sharing of joy and delight. They celebrated two major milestones in January - their 62nd wedding anniversary and Tom’s 90th birthday.
It was a momentous occasion of joy. A beautiful mass was celebrated by the wonderful Father Declan O’Connor in which they acknowledged all the blessings bestowed upon them and their family.
Tom (90) and Hannah (85) enjoyed a beautiful waltz together – the last waltz – after a lifetime of dancing in each other’s arms.
After their marriage, Tom and Hannah lived in Moycullen, County Galway; Rusheen in Castlemaine; and Ballina, County Mayo before setting up their ‘forever’ home in Greenville. If there had been social media back then, Hannah would have been the “Guru” in sustainable living, self-sufficiency, organic gardening and clean, simple eating. She loved the outdoors and grew every vegetable under the sun.
When she set up home in Greenville, her father Patrick arrived from the home farm in Cool bearing gifts. He planted ash trees on the boundaries of her land and pear, apple, plum, gooseberry and blackcurrants in her new garden. He was passing on the torch; an amazingly mindful gift that is still giving 55 years later.
Hannah’s knowledge and love of nature extended to her livestock – she kept various breeds of hens, cows for fresh milk and butter, pigs, sheep and lambs. Her culinary skills were awesome, and her homemade soda bread was a delicious treat enjoyed by all, especially her grandchildren.
Tom and Hannah created a home together that was rich beyond measure in all that truly matters. It was rich in story, rich in poetry, rich in music and dance, rich in camaraderie, rich in laughter and fun, rich in love.
Both Tom and Hannah shared an incredible ability to make everyone feel special. After being in their company, people left with a smile on their face, warmth in their hearts, feeling better about themselves and better and more hopeful about the world. Her family are grateful and honoured for the gift of sharing their lives with their beloved Hannah.
The family would like to thank all the people who lovingly took care of Hannah over the last year. Thank you to her doctors and nurses, Dr Buckley, Dr O’Donoghue, Dr Nabi (UHK), Dr Patricia Sheahan (UHK), Nurse Catherine Corridan and her daughter-in-law Esther, the wonderful team of doctors and nurses in Southdoc. A special thanks to all her carers, particularly Noreen, Kevin, Pa, Paul, John and our true-blue Sarah. A huge thank you to Gerry and all the team at Hartnett’s Pharmacy, The Square, Listowel.
Grateful thanks to Father Declan O’Connor for giving so generously of his time and valued support. The family would like to acknowledge the very dignified guards of honour by friends and neighbours in Greenville and family and friends outside John Paul II cemetery on the day of her funeral. Hannah will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her adoring husband, Tom; sons, Fintan and Thomas; daughters Sinead, Bije, Peggy, Anna, Mary and Elaine, her 16 grandchildren and greatgrandchild Luca, and all her many relatives and friends. Go mbeirimid le chéile arís, le cúnamh Dé. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.