Kathleenloved herbingonights
THE death has taken place, in her 90th year, of Kathleen Meegan (nee McGeough), Drumcay, Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan.
She passed away peacefully at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, on 31 August, 2018.
Kathleen was born on 3 May, 1929, to parents, James and Agnes McGeough. She was one of 10 children, five boys and five girls.
She was educated at Kednaminsha NS. On leaving school she went to help her Aunt Julia with her family in Donaghmoyne and later did dressmaking and waitressing.
In January, 1948 she married Matt Meegan, and moved into the Meegan family farm.
In those days, life was not easy and as a young bride of 19 she worked hard helping out on the farm and looking after her father-in-law.
She was very industrious. She made her own butter and kept hens. Every Monday she would bring her butter and eggs to the market in Dundalk.
Kathleen had many customers who loved her butter and after the market ceased, she would deliver it to their homes.
She made the most wonderful brown bread and every autumn when the damsons were ready she made delicious jam.
She was always busy on her Singer sewing machine which was her prized possession, making, mending and altering clothes for the family.
After rearing her eight children, Kathleen went to work in the Ecco factory in Dundalk, as so many women of that era did.
It was a busy lifestyle, juggling home with a job but she loved it and worked there for 12 ƒ years.
She created a very warm and welcoming home, and her kitchen at times seemed to be the centre of the universe.
Kathleen took a keen interest in politics and current affairs and could hold her own when discussing these matters with her children and grandchildren.
She saw many changes in the world over her long life but was always willing to move on with the times and embrace modern technology. She shocked her daughter when she said maybe she could get a certain skirt ‘online’.
She loved being out and about, having her hair done.
She looked forward to her weekly bingo in Stonetown, Inniskeen and Donaghmoyne; and was a big supporter of Inniskeen Grattans and Monaghan GAA, and followed the fortunes of Monaghan every weekend on Northern Sound.
Kathleen overcame many health difficulties over the years but went on to live a long and fulfilled life.
Above all, she was a woman of deep faith and had a particular devotion to Our Lady. She made many pilgrimages to Lourdes and Knock.
On 15 August, just two weeks before her death, she made what turned out to be her final trip to Knock with her three daughters.
Kathleen’s unexpected death has left a huge void in the lives of her family but she has left them all treasured memories.
She is sadly missed by her daughters, Rose, Angela and Una; sons, Raymond, Brendan, Paddy, Peter and Dermot; her 29 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren; sisters, Julia and Agnes; brothers, Paddy and Jimmy; daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and many friends.
Kathleen was predeceased by her husband, Matt in 2008; her baby daughter, Dympna; parents, James and Agnes; sisters, Minnie and Mairead and brothers, Petie, Tommy and Eddie.
After reposing at her home on Saturday and Sunday, Kathleen’s remains were taken to Mary Mother of Mercy Church, Inniskeen, on Monday, 3 September for Requiem Mass concelebrated by Fr Martin Treanor, Fr Sean McArdle and Fr Paddy Rushe.
Gifts symbolising Kathleen’s life were carried to the altar before Mass by her children.
The first and second readings and prayers of the faithful were read by her grandchildren.
The bread and wine were presented by her daughters-in-law, Philomena and Anne.
Beautiful music which added so much to the ceremony was provided by Sean and Caroline Walsh, Eileen Meegan, Laura Kelly, Joanne Murphy and instrumentalists were her grand-daughters, Deirdre and Sinead.
Mass ended with a song close to her heart, ‘I’ll take you home again, Kathleen’.
Burial took place in St Mary’s Cemetery, Inniskeen. socialising, shopping and