Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Farewell to Tommy
The heartfelt tributes and magical memories from the hundreds of mourners who attended the funeral of beloved Coatbridge shop owner Tommy O’Connor “brought much comfort” to his appreciative family.
A “constant stream” of wellwishers jam- packed St Mary’s Church on Saturday morning to bid a fond final farewell to the 76-year-old, who sadly passed away last week.
People lined up to share their fondness for the man affectionately known as Tommy Tango, through stories about his remarkable generosity, and the decades he spent running The Candy Store newsagents in Whifflet and on Coatbridge Main Street.
Instead of gifts or flowers, Tommy’s family asked mourners to make a donation to the Xaverian Fathers at the Conforti Institute; a group close to Tommy’s heart.
Tommy’s daughter Anne Melville said: “I have never seen St Mary’s [Church] as full; it was a constant stream of people and the place was packed.
“People were coming up to us and sharing their stories of dad; it was overwhelming and brought much comfort to the family.
“Everyone kept saying, ‘we all lost a friend’, which just shows how well-regarded dad was.
“We found out a lot of things we didn’t know dad had done for people; to hear about his widespread generosity filled us with great pride.”
Following the service, Tommy was buried at Coltswood Cemetery, and the grandfather was so highly thought of, clergymen were desperate to contribute to his send-off.
Anne said: “We had priests calling us to see if they could be invited and involved in dad’s funeral.
“Father Kevin Ryan, who had been a friend of dad’s since the 70s, conducted the eulogy and there were several other Xaverians at the altar.
“Our parish priest, Father Bernard, was there too; it was almost like a state funeral.
“The service was excellent, and very personal as Father Ryan had a lots of memories of dad to share; we thank everyone involved for their outstanding, touching work.”