Jim’s long life was ‘blessed’
THE sad death has taken place of Jim Hyland, Moorefields, Rathaspeck.
Born in 1934, in County Clare and raised in Portlaoise, Jim moved to the UK to work as a telecommunications engineer where he met his wife Pat.
Together they had two children, Catherine and David, who in turn gave them three grandchildren.
In 1999 Jim and Pat retired to Wexford, Ireland where they lived happily, enjoying the great peace of the area and the community that made them feel so welcome.
Jim spent his life pursuing new interests, challenges, and adventures, travelling the world with beloved wife Pat. Together they crossed Asia, the United States, Australia, and Europe, sometimes alone, sometimes with their many good friends in the Mercedes-Benz Club.
Jim described his life as ‘ blessed’ and said he had no regrets. After all, he had achieved many of his aspirations and dreams and had experienced true love.
Jim first set his eyes on his beloved Pat when he went to England to find work, along with his father. Jim was working as an engineer in telecommunications around the country when it brought him to Yorkshire.
One evening, at a local dance, he met a young Yorkshire lass by the name of Patricia and began their lifelong romance.
During their life together they had two children and three grandchildren all of whom they loved dearly. Jim was fiercely proud of his children and grandchildren’s achievements, encouraging them to fulfil their hopes and dreams.
A highly successful engineer, Jim’s work took him all over the world; to Nigeria, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tunisia, and South Africa. Later in his career he was a consultant for the development of cable TV infrastructure in the UK.
Described as a ‘ true gentleman’ by those who knew him, Jim was a great source of strength, support, and great love to his family and he shall be sorely missed. A man of great devotion and love, Jim nursed his wife Pat through cancer for two years, without leaving her side for even a single day during that difficult time.
Not one to settle for mediocrity Jim sought out the best that life had to offer and had a constant drive to live life to the fullest, a certified risk taker. Jim Hyland was a man of many talents and was fiercely intelligent, referred to as a ‘font of knowledge and experience’ by his family. His late wife Pat would often refer to him as ‘ the plumber’, ‘ the mechanic’, ‘ the electrician’, ‘ the architect’, and ‘ the engineer’ reflecting the sometimes staggering amount of skills he possessed. Not merely limiting himself to practical skills, Jim was also a great lover of golf and an accomplished musician who had mastered several instruments, including: The organ, the accordion, and the clarinet. Music was a source of great pleasure and inspiration for him though it was in powerful cars where his true interests lay.
Jim’s love affair with cars started at an early age and over the course of his life he had owned Jaguars, Alfa Romeos, Saabs, and many Mercedes-Benzes, all of which were sleek and fast! Mercedes being his break away favourite, Jim bought an SL500 he called – ‘ The Little ‘Un’ which took him and Pat all over Europe as they enjoyed their retirement together. Jim and Pat spent many happy years travelling the world with their friends in the Mercedes Club and toured in their SL500 every year until Pat’s illness forced them to stop. Jim was happiest when he was driving the SL, the sun shining, the top down, Pat beside him with a smooth continental road to cruise down. Destination – wherever the wind blew them! Jim was also an avid follower of the Formula One Grand Prix. He never missed a single race and his knowledge of drivers, cars, racing circuits (worldwide) both historical and current was encyclopaedic. He seized the opportunity offered by the Mercedes Club to race at beloved track ‘Goodwood’ and, true to form, drove to win! He even organised a Mercedes Club Ireland tour himself, in which the highlights of Wexford featured large. Jim is survived by his children, Catherine and David, and his three grandchildren; Ella, Alice, and Tom and will be sadly missed by them, his younger brother Billy, and his many extended family and friends. His Funeral Mass took place at St Martin’s Church, Piercestown, last Thursday, followed by burial in Piercestown Cemetery. May he rest in peace.