Larenawasalways therewhenneeded
LARENA MARSHALL (née Banville) - who passed away peacefully in mid-June - was a woman who was dependable, kind, trustworthy and great fun.
Late of Grange Road, New Ross, Larena died aged 61 following an illness at University Hospital Waterford on June 14.
Born in Wexford to Laurence and Clare, she attended Loreto secondary school where she made many life-long friends.
She loved music and dancing from a young age and had a zest for life which was infectious. Larena’s family moved to New Ross in the early 1970s and her parents opened the Hotel Delare on South Street, where she helped out before moving to the bright lights of Dublin.
There she worked for her friend Stuart Kenny at Kenny Bookmakers and such was Kenny’s faith in Larena that he asked her to open a bookmakers in New Ross which she ran untill 1977 when she moved to England in search of a new challenge and some adventure. She ran a number of pubs in the Essex area and enjoyed getting on her bicycle to explore the area.
Sadly Larena’s father passed away. Her mother married Denny Dunne and Laren’s family grew over the years.
Comnig from a large family Larena didn’t have to be asked twice to come home for a family occasion and she made many trips across the water during her time in England for happy family occasions. She enjoyed many holidays and loved meeting new people and seeing new places.
Larena returned to Ireland in 2002 and worked at Celtic Bookmakers in New Ross, where she was very popular with customers. She settled into the quiet rhythm of life in her hometown after many years away and lived in Grange Road. She loved spending her free time with her mother.
She became ill in 2012 and endured her illness with great courage and determination. She contented herself going on day trips with her mother Clare and is remembered by her family and many friends as someone who was very dependable, kind and trustworthy. Her sister Miriam said: ‘She was always there to help out when needed.’
Larena’s brother Dr Dermot Dunne celebrated her Mass at St Mary’s & St Michael’s Parish Church in New Ross, which was attended by many of her family and old school friends from Wexford. She was laid to rest afterwards in Taghmon beside her father.
Larena is survived by her partner Joe; sisters, Joanne, Clare (Anderson), Miriam (Conway), Denis Dunne, Brendan Dunne, Declan Dunne, Deirdre (Maher), Fr Dermot Dunne; nephews; nieces; brothers-inlaw; sisters-in-law; family and friends.