A much-missed mum and nursery school teacher

EILEEN McCARRON

breakfast,” laughs Patricia.

Pipefitter Patrick and Eileen initially set up home in Springburn, Glasgow, before moving back to the Garngad area of the city.

The couple went on to have three girls – Eileen, Diane and Patricia – all of whom still live in the city.

“We were a close family and had some lovely holidays when I was growing up, usually visiting the seaside or Butlin’s,” says Patricia. ‘“Another year Dad hired a barge and we went along the River Thames – one of our best holidays.”

Besides looking after her husband and family, Eileen spent nearly 20 years working as a nursery school teacher. “Mum was one of those lucky people who always loved her job,” says Patricia. After retiring, she worked part-time in a Barnardo’s charity shop.

Sadly, husband Patrick died suddenly of a heart attack in 1997, aged just 57. “One day he went to work and never came home,” says Patricia.

No man could ever replace him in Eileen’s eyes “and she never really got over dad’s death to be honest”, says Patricia, but she still tried to live as full a life as possible.

“Mum went on a lot of holidays with her family, visiting everywhere from New York to Germany and more recently Poland, and was active right until the end,” adds Patricia. “She looked much younger than her age, was in pretty good health and had a lovely complexion.”

In 1990, Eileen became a grandmother and enjoyed nothing more than spending time with her beloved grandson Patrick – named after the boy’s late grandfather.

Heartbreakingly, Eileen fell ill with Covid-19 in early April.

“There were no symptoms such as a cough or fever,” says Patricia.

However, she began to experience breathing difficulties, was admitted to hospital and died the following morning at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

“The Requiem mass was livestreamed from St Roch’s RC Church so that family and friends at home and abroad could participate in the service and say their goodbyes to mum,” says Patricia. Due to social distancing regulations, only a limited number of mourners could attend the cremation at Maryhill Crematorium.

But in a touching gesture, neighbours and friends lined the street as the funeral cortege made its way past her home and her local church en route to the crematorium.

“It reflected the love that so many people felt for my mother,” says Patricia.

Eileen married childhood sweetheart Patrick in 1961