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Ellen (Nellie) Byrne née English of Rathimney, Gusserane, passed away peacefully in Wexford General Hospital on Monday morning, October 3, aged 72. Nellie fought her illness for a long number of years having been diagnosed with MS at the age of 38. She was born and grew up in Camross, she attended school nearby in Caroeigh before going on to attend secondary school in Ramsgrange. She met her husband Walter Byrne at a Macra dance and they married on October 28, 1970. Walter and Nellie have two children Eamonn & Helena and seven grandchildren whom Nellie loved dearly. Nellie spoiled her grandchildren, the press and crock were always filled to the brim in anticipation of their arrival! She always enjoyed the fun and laughter that the children brought in abundance. The Byrne house was always open to visitors and many people would regularly gather there for the chat, craic, the game of cards and without fail a cup of tea. That was something you couldn’t leave the house without having. She was a masterful chef from her early days and the aroma of fresh baking often came from her kitchen in Rathimney. In her younger days Nellie played an active role in the local community. She was involved in the school council, community games, ladies football and was one of the founder members of the Gusserane Ladies Football Club with Lar Fitzharris and Stephen Codd. She always followed the local and county GAA teams and regularly would have attended matches in Wexford Park and Croke Park when she was able to travel. The people in most danger at these matches were often not the players on the pitch but the people sitting beside Nellie, as she would get so immersed in the game, she would almost be playing every move in the stand! Her favourite pastime was playing the card game 45. She played in many places but most favourably in Harts of Campile and Rosies of Dunmain. She loved a good game of cards and dare you renege on a card, Nellie would most certainly call you out. Only recently when playing with family, a player was admonished by herself ‘if you did that in Rosies you would be thrown out on the road’ after a card was held back. In recent months Nellie had enjoyed very good health and was back driving and swimming. She was also delighted to be back to visiting friends and relatives. A huge crowd attended the wake in her home and a crowd rarely seen in Gusserane attended her funeral mass which was celebrated by Fr Laffan and concelebrated by others. Members of the South East MS Branch formed a guard of honour as the coffin was taken into the church while members of the Gusserane Underage and Ladies Club formed a guard of honour to the graveyard where she was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery. Nellie is sadly missed by her loving husband Walter, daughter Helena, son Eamonn; sisters Kathleen & Mamie, deceased sisters Babs & Bridget, brothers Paddy and Jim, son-in-law Eamonn, daughter-inlaw Marianne, seven grandchildren, sister in law, brother in law, nephews, nieces, relatives & friends. May her gentle soul Rest in Peace.