Married 55 years, Michael and Anna died days apart OBITUARIES
MICHAEL and Anna Rowe, who passed away within two days of each other in late March having been married for 55 years this year, were inseparable in life, as in death.
Michael died on the evening of March 22 at University Hospital Waterford and Anna passed away in the same ward two days later at around the same time.
Michael had suffered from ill health for one year prior to his passing and he fell into a coma on St Patrick’s Day, while Anna had some health problems and was also in the hospital receiving care, when she was informed by doctors that she had a terminal illness.
Michael was one of 13 children, born to Michael and Mary Rowe, of Tinnock, Campile.
From a farming background, he attended Horeswood NS and Shielbaggan secondary school. He took to farming from a young age and loved working with animals.
This love spurred him on to enjoy showjumping, hunting and everything to do with horses.
Michael met Anna and the couple were married in 1961 in Ballykelly Church.
They went on to have six children, Maeve, Michael, Kathleen, Joan, James and Tony, living at Michael’s home place in Tinnock, where he farmed all his life.
Anna was a daughter of Jim and Catherine Kennedy from Dunganstown, and was a cousin of the late American President John F Kennedy, who she met when he visited the Kennedy homestead in 1963.
Anna was the eldest of four, her siblings being Pat, (who is the only Dunganstown Kennedy surviving in the area), Kitty and Peggy.
Growing up she attended Ballykelly NS.
Throughout her life Anna loved cooking, baking and gardening.
She would wake early each morning and could be found at the oven baking bread, cakes, her famous pavlovas and buns for special occasions in the community and for country markets.
Being outgoing, she loved the social aspect of ICA and her passion for the organisation led her to become president of the local branch.
Anna was also very active in Horeswood Church and was a woman of great faith.
Both she and Michael travelled to Lourdes together on a number of occasions and to America also, where they met 15 Kennedy cousins across New York state.
Her son Michael said: ‘Whenever a Kennedy came here from America they met her and over the years she would have given tea and cake to her Kennedy relatives. Her proudest moment was meeting President John F Kennedy and she was pictured pouring tea for him.’
Both Anna and Michael loved gardening and travelled to garden centres across the country every Sunday, often stopping into the John F Kennedy Arboretum and Tintern gardens. Anna’s garden was her pride and joy and she was often complimented on the variety and beauty of her flowers.
Both Anna and Michael were proud pioneers.
‘ They didn’t drink or smoke so that was their thing. They both loved nature.’
Michael was a staunch Fianna Fáil supporter and canvassed with Hugh Byrne over the years. He was an active member of the IFA and was a respected and popular member of the county’s farming community.
His love of farming never diminished so much so that right up until the week before he was admitted to hospital, he was down in his yard inspecting his animals.
Michael and Anna were devoted to their children and to their grandchildren, and regularly kept in touch with them to see how they were getting on.
The last time Anna saw Michael was on St Patrick’s Day morning, five days prior to his passing and a week prior to her passing in the same hospital ward,
‘It was surreal for all the family. It’s something you’d never want anyone to go through. Having lost one parent you had to go back into the same ward and hospital and go through it all again,’ their son Michael said.
A lady of great style, Anna always looked immaculate and as with all aspects of her life, never failed to make the effort to dress to impress.
She enjoyed great health up until January of this year and she passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on March 24.
A massive crowd of over 1,400 people paid their final respects to Anna and Michael at Cooney’s Funeral Home in New Ross, where they were waked, and at their funeral Mass at Horeswood Church, which was celebrated by Fr Gerald O’Leary, accompanied by several priests.
Michael and Anna were laid to rest together afterwards in Ramsgrange Cemetery.
The family wish to thank the ICA for providing such an amazing spread for mourners at Ballykelly Hall.
‘It’s just as my mother would do,’ Michael said.
May their gentle souls rest in peace.