One of a kind Anne was a loving wife and the perfect mother
PEOPLE throughout Enniscorthy were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Anne O’Neill (nee Breen), from 78 Pearse Road.
A very proud, loving and charismatic woman she was a devoted mother and wife and was extremely proud of her family.
Anne spent all her life in Pearse Road where she grew up with her mother and father, Mary and Aidan Moses, and her younger siblings, Mai, Mari, Paddy and John (Blondie).
Anne met the love of her life, her beloved husband Michael, when she was 21 and the couple were married nine months later, on Easter Monday, April 11, 1966. Poignantly, Anne passed away on the couple’s 54th wedding anniversary.
One family member said: ‘They were the best of friends and even in her final days, her love for daddy knew no bounds as she was adamant they would celebrate their love one more time.’
In August, 1967, Anne and Michael were blessed with the first of their five children, Mary, followed by Michael, Elaine, Áine and Avril. Their childhood was filled with laughter and happiness, and Anne and Michael ensured their family wanted for nothing.
Michael’s role in the military meant he was away a lot but he had peace of mind knowing his beloved Anne was rearing their children while he was away.
‘She taught us the lessons that have shaped us to be the individuals we are today and everything good in us is a result of her wisdom, morals and her huge heart, as we were the centre of her world,’ said one family member. ‘Her powerful presence and the ability to light up every room she walked in to will be so painfully missed.’
Anne lived for her family and she doted on her grandchildren. She instilled in them the same confidence that she did in her own children and her love for her grandchildren was reciprocated by them towards her.
Anne also loved her sons-in-law, Alan, Paul, Nick and Jim, her nephews and nieces and her sense of family also extended to her multitude of friends.
Affectionately known as mammy and nanny, Anne’s passing has left a massive void in the lives of everyone she knew.
When she passed away peacefully in Wexford General Hospital she was surrounded by her husband and four of her children, Mary, Michael, Áine and Avril.
Her daughter, Elaine, was present through facetime as she was not allowed to travel over from the UK to be by her mother’s side due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
Speaking to this newspaper Elaine said that while her mam did not pass away from coronavirus it still had an impact on her family’s life. Grateful for the technology that enabled her to see her mam’s funeral on computer, Elaine said she was ‘devastated and heartbroken’ that she couldn’t be by her side and hold her hand one more time.
‘It’s a pain and heartache I never thought I would endure,’ said Elaine. ‘To not be able to comfort my daddy and siblings and share our grief over losing our caring and loving mammy is insufferable.’
Elaine said anyone who came into contact with her mam immediately felt her infectious love and light.
‘She truly was the strongest person I have ever known, even at the end,’ said Elaine.
‘I could not have asked for a more perfect mother and I am so grateful for every happy memory we have shared together; she is leaving me with a massive hole in my heart that will never be filled.’
Anne was a lover of music and dance and regularly attended local dances. She had a particular soft spot for jiving and her love for dancing was something she passed on to her children.
She also liked baking and was renowned for her bread and tarts. Blessed with a warm and amiable personality she loved socialising with friends and had a particular fondness for bingo, darts and pitch ‘n’ putt.
Anne was a competitive woman and for years the family never had to buy a turkey or ham for Christmas dinner as she always won the Christmas darts competition.
She was loved by many friends and neighbours, and had a very special friendship and bond with Joan Walsh and Maureen Kirwan.
For many years they would travel to Killarney to watch Daniel O’Donnell, with all three women being massive fans.
Anne’s caring nature extended beyond her family to others she came into contact with; she nursed her neighbour, Mrs Goodall, as her family lived far away and was with her right up to the end.
Anne attended the Presentation Convent School and worked in Viners Cutlery Factory in Enniscorthy.
After marrying Michael and giving birth to her first child, she became a housewife and she was extremely proud to be one.
Her children have fond memories of long summers and picnics on Curracloe Beach, daisy chain making, singing, dancing, fruit picking, swimming in the headwire, the smell of homemade soda bread and apple tarts. These are memories that will resonate with them forever thanks to the love and care of their devoted parents.
On Sunday afternoon, it was a tradition for Anne and the children to spend time with their Aunty Mai and her family in Bellefield.
Once the children left home, Anne continued this tradition of spending Sunday afternoons with her sister until the lockdown.
Anne spent many years travelling to England and Scotland to keep up her relationship with her siblings and later in life she was reunited with her brother John (Blondie). Though time had passed their love for each other was very evident.
England was somewhere Anne ended up visiting frequently as her daughter, Elaine, and two grandchildren live in Derby.
Anne ensured she was there to support Elaine as she became a mother and built a special relationship with her grandchildren.
Anne always showed courage and strength throughout her life and, despite many ailments she encountered, she always fought hard and never let anything keep her down for long.
Due to the unprecedented time that everyone is experiencing at the moment, Anne could not have the traditional funeral she very much deserved.
However, her family, neighbours and friends ensured that she got an extraordinary special send off from Pearse Road. Everyone came out of their houses and, keeping within social distance guidelines, wore something turquoise blue which was Anne’s favourite colour. They also clapped as Anne’s remains left her home to go to St Aidan’s Cathedral for a private service.
Stephen Murphy stood outside the house and sang ‘I Did It My Way’ and ‘Two Loves’, the two songs Anne wished to be played at her funeral.
‘Mammy being the first of the siblings to be reunited in heaven with her parents is extremely heavy on their hearts as they cannot be here to say their goodbyes and celebrate the wonderful life they had together,’ said one family member.
‘Covid-19 indirectly affected this family, not only through the evident funeral proceedings but the fact that her daughter Elaine, son-in-law, and grandchildren could not get permission to enter the country to be with Anne in her final moments or attend her funeral,’ she added.
Two of Anne’s grandchildren, Áine and Connor, live in Derby and were unable to attend the funeral due to the restrictions.
However, they paid tribute to their nanny, saying: ‘The world [has] lost one of its most precious souls; our nanny was one of a kind, she had the biggest heart, a fiery personality, the wisest words, and an unimaginable amount of love to give.’
‘Due to the current global situation we didn’t get to go home to Ireland say goodbye to our nanny, we didn’t get to cuddle her one last time and we didn’t get to be there to support the people we love most,’ they said.
They went on to say: ‘Our hearts hurt more than we ever thought possible. Nanny, you gave us the greatest gift in our lives – our mother – [and] we promise to look after her for you. Losing you has shattered our hearts, we will miss you forever.’
Following the requiem mass in St Aidan’s Cathedral, Anne’s remains were laid to rest.
She is survived by her husband, Michael, children, Mary, Michael, Elaine, Áine and Avril, grandchildren, Emma, Cheryl, Holly, Áine, Connor, Chloe, Rubylee and Jack, great-grandsons, Brandon and Harvey, sonsin-law, Alan, Nick and Paul, sisters, Mai and Marie, brothers, Paddy and John, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and large circle of friends.
Anne’s family wished to thank the Wexford General Hospital staff who cared for Anne and also Crosbie Funeral Directors for their professional and personable approach. They also thanked their neighbours and friends for coming out on the day of the funeral to show their support.
A memorial mass will be held once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.