Kittywasa devoutCatholic
THE death has occurred of Kitty Carroll, (The Shop), Main Street, Blackrock, Dundalk on Wednesday 16 January, 2019, in the loving care of the staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda where she was a patient since October 2018.
Kitty was in her 98th year and was predeceased by her parents, Peter and Annie; her brothers, Owen and Jack (twin) and also by her sisters-in-law, Frances and Kitty.
She was educated at Blackrock NS and, as was customary at the time, began working in the family business at Main Street, Blackrock where she remained until she retired in 2007.
She worked in the general grocery section of the shop and in her later years it became well known as the last ‘ sweet shop’ in the village, having served countless generations of children over the years.
Despite her retirement she always ensured children living abroad got their favourite sweets when they visited her during their holidays. A lot of unheralded acts of kindness undertaken by Kitty over the years were recorded by the many people who attended her wake and funeral obsequies.
The Carroll household took in guests during the busy summer period when ‘a week in Blackrock’ was considered a wonderful holiday, in an era when package holidays had yet to be invented.
The house was full of guests from near and far, but especially from the Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin and Belfast areas; and generations of Scottish visitors travelled over annually.
Kitty and her mother Annie made all welcome and as a result Kitty made lifelong friends among the visitors, many of whom remained in contact with her over the years.
Following her retirement Kitty held court in the shop front where many friends, neighbours and former customers called to visit her on a daily basis.
Despite some mobility problems in later years she took great delight in Wednesday visits to the Day Centre at the Louth Hospital.
Kitty was a devout Catholic. She had a particular interest in Padre Pio and Saint Anthony and, until ill health intervened, she attended religious ceremonies regularly .
Kitty was a sociable person and enjoyed the constant stream of daily visitors to her home. The Bluebird service assisted her greatly when her health deteriorated.
Family was very important to Kitty and her nieces Marie and Mary (both in Blackrock) ensured she wanted for nothing as did Aundrine, Eugena and Peter on regular visits. Kitty liked nothing better than being collected for a visit or an outing by family members.
She followed the progress of her five grand-nephews with great pride. She was delighted with the surprise visits of Ciarán Hamilton during the Christmas period, as Ciaran is domiciled in Shanghai. Her other grand-nephews Cathal Hamilton, Tiernan and Garvin Carroll and Cían O’Hare will miss her greatly.
Having reposed at her home on Friday night, 18 January, Kitty’s Requiem Mass took place in Saint Oliver Plunkett Church in Blackrock at 11.00am on Saturday. The Celebrant, Father Brian White, in a moving homily concentrated on the important strands in her life, family, friends and her deep faith. He referred to ‘First Friday’ visits to her house over the last few years.
Gifts remembering Kitty’s daily life were carried to the altar by Cían O’Hare, Maria Dullaghan, Garvin Carroll and Cathal Hamilton.
Readings were by Peter Carroll and Eilis McGready. Gifts for the Offertory Procession were presented by Marie Hamilton and Mary McArdle. Prayers of the Faithful were read by Eugena O’Hare, Aundrine Milton, Louise Carroll and Rita Rogers, and a Reflection followed by Mary Murphy.
Music and song by Patsy Breen and Eamonn Cooney greatly enhanced the poignancy of the Mass.
Kitty was laid to rest in Haggardstown old cemetery, Old Golf Limnks Road, Blackrock following the Mass.
Kitty is survived by her nieces, Marie Hamilton (Blackrock), Mary Murphy (Blackrock), Aundrine Milton (Gormanston) Eugena O’Hare (Cootehill) and her nephew Peter Carroll (Terenure) also her five grand-nephews along with a large circle of relatives and friends.
Month’s Mind Mass takes place on Sunday, 17 February at 12.00 at Saint Oliver Plunkett Church, Blackrock