Kathleen was dedicated to her family
BALLYMOTE native Kathleen Murphy (nee Wilson) and late of Kevelioc Road, London was a dedicated nurse who cared deeply for her family and patients alike.
Formally of Kilmorgan Ballymote, Kathleen was the eldest of 8 children, born in 1941 to John and Catherine Wilson (nee Cunane).
She grew up alongside her bothers and sisters in a small cottage in Kilmorgan, Ballymote. The cottage still stands today - her nephew Wayne Doyle often drives past it when in Ireland to soak up the old memories and wonder in amazement how on earth they managed, “but they did and were happy for it!”
Kathleen often spoke of going to dances in Loftus Hall in Ballymote - she would smile fondly when recalling her love of dancing.
Kathleen started her love of nursing in Sligo Hospital where she would cycle to and from every day all the way from Ballymote.
Kathleen left Ballymote in 1962 to follow her calling as a nurse. She first trained and worked in St Brendan’s Psychiatric Hospital, Grangegorman alongside her sisters Philomena and Patricia.
On the 1st of April 1967 Philomena and Kathleen travelled to Whipps Cross Hospital in London to undertake their training as general nurses. Those were times Kathleen spoke very fondly of, herself and Philomena counting up their wages to see how much they could send back home to their mother and father which reportedly allowed her parents to buy their first few cattle.
And from that same wage packet Kathleen and Philomena treated themselves to a record “the black velvet band” by the Dubliners.
It reminded them of home and they played it so much the other student nurses would complain.
Kathleen never lost her connection with Sligo and once established in the UK she would travel back every 4-6 weeks to see her parents and siblings.
Kathleen was a unique woman from a generation of unique people, with qualities that are sadly missing from the younger generations.
A beautiful soul has returned home to join those who have travelled there before her.
Husband Bernard, her mother and father Catherine and John Wilson, her brother Sean, her sisters Philomena, Patricia and Bernadette, who no doubt welcomed her with open arms.
Kathleen is survived and sadly missed by her loving brother Noel - “the best brother a sister could have” as she said almost every time she spoke of him - Liam and her sister Imelda. Kathleen is also deeply missed by her nieces, nephews and friends and most of all by the children she never had, Wayne and Catherine and the grandchildren she never had, Ciara, Moyà and Amelia.
Kathleen cared for both her patients and her family, she lived her work and gave endlessly of herself.
Her total dedication, kindness and deep, deep compassion was all her souls journey in this life, that of committed service.
This extended to her family and friends in all ways and at all times, always giving of herself no bounds/endless generosity.
So long as we will live so too will she in our hearts.
Kathleen died peacefully following a long battle with illness on the 2nd of September 2018.