Tributes to inseparable brother and sister
TRIBUTES have been paid to brother and sister Anne and Sylvester Dempsey who have been described as inseparable, wonderful people.
Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District council Cllr Willie Fitzharris said they were two of the nicest people you could meet.
‘Anne would have been so careful driving. I live two miles from them and they were such quiet and unassuming people.’
Cllr Fitzharris said: ‘The community is just devastated. It’s another terrible tragedy in the area and they are lovely people.
‘Sylvester worked in Wallace’s for years and was an extremely, happy-go-lucky man. They were both salt of the earth and it’s testament to the fact that not many people would know them.
‘They lived their lives and were very private people of strong faith. The fact that it’s a brother and sister from one family just makes it even more tragic. The news only came through on a Thursday morning so people are still reeling.’
HR Manager of Wallace’s SuperValu in Wellingtonbridge, Muriel Culleton, said staff members broke down in tears when they heard that Sylvester had died.
Sylvester worked at the supermarket for 20 years and Anne was well known to many staff members.
Describing Sylvester as the face of the supermarket, Muriel said: ‘Customers have been ringing me with their stories about Sylvie, as we called him. He started here in 1996 and was out sick since before Christmas.
Sylvester worked in customer care and would bring trolleys laden with groceries out to cars.
‘The girl on the till would always call for Sylvie to help me. I got to know Anne in the last year. Even though Sylvester wasn’t here for the last year, the staff said they expected to see him here in the morning.
‘We put a lovely pic of him up when news came through. We had a staff get together and there were tears. Sylvie loved the older staff especially in the butchers and the store and deliver men. He loved having the caic and would spend most Monday mornings talking about their weekend matches.’
Muriel said the Clongeen area has had a lot of tragedy as of late, adding that the community will rally around the Dempsey family.
‘They are a very, very quiet family who keep to themselves but they will still get help within the community.’
WE HAD A STAFF GET TOGETHER AND THERE WERE TEARS