Teacher Maeve left an indelible, positive legacy on New Ross
THE death of Maeve Wilson – a loving wife and mother and popular teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes (formerly Holy Faith) – one year ago (February 11, 2018), came as a huge blow to everyone who knew her, including the hundreds of students whose lives she touched over the years.
Late of Ardross, Cherry’s Road, New Ross, Maeve died aged 57 after a brave battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, Paschal, daughter Claire; sister Katherine and brothers John and David. She was predeceased by her son David.
Maeve was born on July 30, 1960, in Thurles, County Tipperary. She was the eldest of four children. Her father – who was a classical music fan – died when Maeve was 12 after being ill for a number of years with TB. Occasionally he would send Maeve and her sister out for two bottles of stout to local pub so that he and his brother who visited regularly could have a drink and sing along with the music.
This was where Maeve got her interest in music. Her father’s death also meant that Maeve had to ‘grow up’ earlier than most, as the eldest to assist her mother in raising a very young family.
Maeve attended the Ursuline Convent School in Thurles and after her Leaving Cert went to UCD where she obtained a BA in Music and English. She then did her Dip and started to work as a teacher in 1982 when she came to The Holy Faith Convent to start her teaching career.
Maeve’s work week was limited to between 10 to 12 hours of teaching initially, but circumstances evolved and she got a greater number of hours and ended up getting a full-time role.
In her early years in New Ross Maeve joined the New Ross Musical Society and was involved in the chorus of several shows before her nous as a music teacher resulted in her becoming involved in the off-stage work such as choir mistress and playing the music for rehearsals.
Maeve also joined New Ross Junior Chamber of Commerce which was very active at that time. She became a very active debater and was part of some very successful teams in national debating competitions.
Maeve rose to the rank of president of Junior Chamber at one stage, such was the esteem in which she was held. As the Junior C organised schools debates she was active in promoting teams from Our Lady Of Lourdes over the years in these competitions.
She met local man Paschal in 1986 and they were married on June 5, 1989. They had two children. Claire and David. Maeve was a fantastic and loving mother. She did everything for the children that a good mother should. Birthday parties, bringing them to shows, teaching them music, holidays: Maeve, with Paschal by her side, was the driving force behind all that was fun and joyful.
She loved her job as a teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes, even though at times she would say herself that it ‘drove her mad’. She was a firm believer in trying to get students to think and open their minds and taught more to her students than just what was in the text books – she taught them about life and going out into the world. She put endless hours into teaching all her life, including preparing work at home for the classroom and correcting school work. Red biros were never safe when Maeve was around!
Maeve was always an active golfer. She started in Thurles and later joined New Ross when she came to work here. She was an accomplished golfer and the highlight of her playing career was winning the Lady President’s Prize. She gave it up when the children were small but resumed again a few years later.
She became involved on the Lady’s Committee and was Vice Captain in 2017, and became Lady Captain in December 2017 for 2018. Unfortunately due to her untimely death she did not get to carry out this role in 2018.
However, the club kept the role open in her name in 2018 and the Ladies Committee carried on the role in her memory.
Music was a constant in Maeve’s life and she was involved in numerous shows over the years, including AIMS Choral Festival, piano festival and singing competitions, school concerts, church choir, school musicals with the CBS and oral exams. She also enjoyed going to shows and operas in Wexford.
Maeve was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. She underwent chemotherapy, an operation and radiotherapy and got the all clear in the summer of 2012.
Her cancer returned in 2014 and it got progressively worse. Maeve fought her cancer with determination and courage and she was always determined to continue living life and doing the things that mattered to her, despite the cancer.
A woman of deep faith, she travelled to Fatima three times. Maeve was a woman who definitely had a vocation to teach, to help and to involve herself with other people.
This might be best summed up in a tribute to Maeve in the foreword by local writer Tina Callaghan, in her recently launched book ‘Dark Wood Dark Water’ in which she says of Maeve: ‘The first person outside of my family to talk to me about being a writer was my first year English teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Maeve Wilson (née Butler). She told me that the most important thing was to keep the reader engaged. She was right and it’s the one rule I always try to stick to. Maeve passed away before I got to tell her about my book. I hope she knows now. Thank you Miss Butler.’
A huge crowd, including many of her past students and colleagues, attended Maeve’s funeral Mass at The Church of the Assumption, Rosbercon, and her burial afterwards in St Stephen’s Cemetery.
Maeve is survived by Paschal; Claire; her sister Katherine; brothers John and David. She is sadly missed by her brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, many cousins, extended family and a large circle of friends.
May she Rest in Peace.