The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
ABBIE HAD STRONG FAITH AND A LOVE OF TRAVELLING
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Abbie (Deborah) Coffey (Nee Healy) passed away on January 13 2018 in her 96th year. 1922-2018.
ABBIE was born in 1922 in Glounlea Scartaglen. She was the sixth of nine children born to Michael and Mary Healy. Abbie always spoke fondly of her father Michael whom she was very close too. Abbie spent a lot of her early years in Lacca near Killarney with her Mother’s Aunt and she loved her time there.
Abbie went to work in Castleisland and it is there she met Jimmy Coffey of Kilcow Castleisland. Abbie left for London in the early forties during the height of the war. there she worked very hard with two jobs in a factory during the day and bar work at night, plus she was an air raid warden with her sister. Abbie always joked that Jimmy followed her to London and it was there in 1946 they married in Kingsbury London. Their first son Jerry was born in 1948. Two more children were born in London, Michael on her birthday and her daughter Maureen.
Abbie and Jimmy always felt sorry for the young Irish coming over to London and for the next number of years their door was always open, and they kept lodgers from Kerry to Donegal and Abbie always made sure they wrote home to their mothers in Ireland and kept in contact with home. Life was hard at times, but Abbie believed hard work never killed anyone. She worked hard for her family and provided for us for which we are eternally grateful. Abbie and Jimmy were very well known within the Irish community in London. Every year the family always came back to Kerry for the annual summer holidays to see family and friends.
Abbie loved travelling. When Jimmy retired, Abbie, Jimmy and Maureen went to Canada for a couple of years where their eldest son Jerry and family are living. They always felt very welcome in Canada. Abbie and Jimmy returned to Kerry when their daughter Maureen was diagnosed with cancer, which was a terrible cross for them to bear. Abbie was always one for positive thinking and she put that into action with Maureen who thankfully recovered. The positive thinking stood to Abbie right through her 96 years.
Abbie was devastated when Jimmy died in 2002 the day before her 80th birthday. She missed Jimmy so much, they were soulmates. Abbie and Jimmy had four grandchildren Samantha and Ryan in Canada, Gareth and Michael in London and four great-grandchildren in Canada.
Abbie continued her love of travelling Canada and USA. For her 90th birthday she went on a Mediterranean cruise with the family and loved it. She was in London and Majorca and Lourdes a number of times. The last time she was there was last September 2017.
Abbie broke her leg in 2013 and spent three months in Killarney Community Hospital where her care and attention by the staff was fantastic. Abbie walked out of there and started her travelling and socialising again.
Abbie loved going to see Declan Nearney and Mike Denver wherever they were playing. Abbie and Jimmy always went to the Sunday night dances at the Ballygary hotel, where they made many friends. Abbie loved going out driving most days with her daughter Maureen. Abbie was a woman of great faith and still attended mass regularly, her faith meant so much to her. She was delighted that she could watch mass on EWTN channel a couple of times a day.
We would like to say a big thank you to our friends Eileen and Tom Thompson, Eileen was a great friend to both Abbie and Jimmy. She was like another daughter to Abbie and was always there for us as a family.
Abbie’s daughter Maureen cared for Abbie the past number of years and it was a privilege to look after Mom. Jerry, Michael and Maureen miss their Mom Abbie so much. She was a character, very funny and always had good advice. She has left a very big void in our lives.
Abbie was Pre-deceased by her siblings Michael, Dan, Julia, Mary, Kitty, Bridget and Tim. Abbie is sadly missed by her daughter Maureen, sons Jerry in Canada, Michael in London, Daughters-in-law, Grandchildren, sister Joan in London, sisters-in-law, Sr Imelda, Sr Alphonus London, Mary Brosna, Nephews and Nieces and many friends.
May Mom Rest in Peace with Dad. ‘Until We Meet Again’.