Much-loved Ballinskelligs woman Mary packed much into her 99 years

THE family of Mary Cremin has paid tribute to the muchloved Ballinskelligs woman, who died recently just days short of her 100th birthday.

Her Wake at Fitzgerald’s Home, Waterville, and Funeral at St Michael’s Church, Dungeagan, were well attended and a fitting tribute to a woman held in high regard.

“Mary was to celebrate her 100th birthday on January 16,” her niece, Catherine, told The Kerryman. “She had anticipated this greatly and looked forward to celebrating with her extended family and friends but, alas, due to suffering a stroke at her home six days previously, this was not the case despite the efforts of the ambulance crew, the air ambulance crew and staff at University Hospital Kerry.”

Mary was born in Meeligoleen on January 16, 1920, and was the third of Julia and Andrew Cremin’s eight children.

She helped her siblings on the family farm until her late 20s, before moving to the US with her brother, John. After securing sponsorship courtesy of their Boston-based aunts, they spent some 40 years stateside before returning to their native shores. Their brother, Bobby, had also moved to the

US in the interim.

During her time in America, Mary became best-known as Head Supervisor at St Louis Nursing Home in Manhattan, a role she carried out diligently and in an organised manner for over 35 years.

Mary always kept in touch with home, and she returned on holiday annually.

“She never arrived without bringing presents for her family and especially her nieces and nephews in Ballinskelligs,” Catherine said. “Her annual trip home was the highlight of the summer holidays, both for her and for the family at home.

“When she returned to the USA, within a few months a parcel would follow to the family at home and to her four young nieces and nephews. The ‘Parcel from America’ was most exciting and nobody was left disappointed.”

After retiring to Ireland in 1987, she surrounded herself with family, neighbours, and pastimes aplenty. She also witnessed great changes in her locality, and while she reminisced on times gone by, she was open-minded and welcoming of change.

Described as stoic, resilient, and a woman of strong faith, she also pushed through some difficult times in New York, not least when her nephew was killed in a road accident not far from where she lived.

“Mary was lucky to be able to spend her life in her own home,” Catherine said.

“This would not have been possible without the help of family and carers, and one in particular, a wonderful lady, Mary Cronin, who was carer to the Cremin family for 15 years.

“She was a wonderful sister and aunt, whose generosity knew no bounds: her wisdom, her memory, her conversations will be remembered by many.”

Mary is sadly missed by sisters Tessie and Katie (O’Connell); nieces Catherine, Sheila, Mary and Sheila; nephews, Paudie, Andrew, John and James; grandnephews and grandnieces; relatives; extended family; neighbours; and friends.

The late Mary Cremin