The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Loving home-maker who was friendly, welcoming and respected by all
DENISE O’Horgain of 31A Racecourse Lawn, Tralee and formerly of Derby and Lancs, England, died peacefully on November 19, 2019, at the Killarney Community Hospital, ‘The District’.
Denise was born in Lancs, where her father was working at the time, and due to the nature of his work, the family moved around England in her early life, but Derby was the home base. She often said that, due to the various locations where they lived, she never really identified with one particular town.
Denise met her husband Pádraig in Leicester, and they set up home together, where two of their children, Karen and Conor, were born. After some years they moved to Huddersfield, where Siobhán, Fionnuala and Finbarr were born. Finbarr died after nine weeks of life and is buried in Huddersfield.
Denise became a child-minder in Huddersfield and helped to establish the Childminder’s Association, in which she was active for 13 years.
In 1989 the family moved to Tralee, and Denise took to the town like a duck to water. She loved living in Tralee and said that at long last she had found the home town that she had been seeking all her life.
When Oxfam opened in Tralee, Denise joined as a volunteer and spent 23 years there, where she formed enduring friendships. In the final weeks of her life, she was comforted by the visits of her former colleagues to the District.
Denise also joined the Tralee Bridge Club and had many friends there who were very dear to her.
She had very good neighbours in Racecourse Lawn, who visited her at home and in hospital and were a source of great help to the family. One neighbour, knowing of Denise’s love of flowers, painted a canvas of wild flowers in a field. This was greatly admired by one and all at the ‘District’ and will be treasured by the family forever.
Denise was an only child, and when a friend first heard of this, she said “not any more, I’m your sister now”. Denise was a home-maker who gave our children a secure and loving base. She was friendly and welcoming, respected and admired. She was especially loved by the children of the road, who looked forward to the birthday parties that she put on every year.
Denise was a supportive and loving wife who gave unflinching help to her husband Pádraig throughout their married life. As Pádraig said at her Funeral Mass: “Níl sí uainn, tá sí romhainn”.
Denise will be greatly missed by her husband, Pádraig; children; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; by her extended family, friends and neighbours.
Her kindness, compassion and non-judgemental attitude to life and all its problems will not be forgotten.