My mother loved to sing and one of her favourites by beautiful Irish Singer Bridie Gallagher was The Green Glens of Antrim. When my mum was buried it would not have been permitted to sing this song at her funeral as it was not a hymn. When my father joined my mother and we serenaded him a last farewell of his favourite song we followed it with my mums while the piper played. I know she would have been singing right along with us.
My Mother was born in Belfast, N. Ireland to Sarah & Thomas Donnelly. Her father died when she was 7 years old. She always remembered crawling under the adults feet in the bedroom as they sat around her fathers death bed, getting up onto the bed and kissing him goodnight.
My granny did any kind of work she could find to provide for the family after his death. My mum lived in Bread Street with her brothers and sisters, Billy, Pat, Jackie, Bridie, Mary, Vera and Cassie until she married my father (Charlie Neeson) on January 10, 1949.
My mother did not have an easy life, having had sixteen children of which eleven survived childhood she and my father did everything possible to give us a good start in life on what meagre earnings they had. They moved to live in Alexander St. West in what was known as the Pound Loney and from there to the Falls Road and finally into La Salle Drive.
My mother had great faith and would give the shirt off her or our backs if necessary to help someone else. She was instrumental in establishing the library for St. Louises Comprehensive College in Belfast which is world reknown.
She worked as a dauffer in the mill, confectionary, liquor store, school canteen, crossing guard, whatever it took to raise us. She knew everyone, everywhere. She had a plan for everything which usually meant trouble but she made things happen and got the job done!!! In spite of not having much money, she made Christmases special even going into debt to do so.
She revelled in her grandchildren and would do anything for anyone of us. As a homebody I spent pretty much every night with her which usually meant hours of Ave Maria's and prayers offered to keep her boys safe during the "Troubles". She would never go to bed until all were home safely. She prayed her way out of every worry she had and God usually answered her prayers pretty quick.
My mother loved to sing all the old Irish Ballads and if you had a question for her you had to catch her between breaths of the next song or you were out of luck!
She became involved in adult education and went back to school in her 50's which she thoroughly enjoyed.
In later years she suffered a heart attack and some minor strokes that left her unable to hold a fluent conversation with anyone. She always loved to chat with the neighbours, family and friends and this was a great loss in her life. In her last years she often had a pain in her side which the doctors told her was bronchitis or a bad flu. Her treatment was Andrews Liver Salts an indegestion remedy. She was admitted to hospital in her final days again with bronchitis which was later determined to be Stage 4 Cancer throughout her body. She died within a few days of being diagnosed.
My mother always wanted to make a pilgrimage to Fatima, she never got to do it. However, she died on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima which was also her fathers birthday.
My Mother was born in Belfast, N. Ireland to Sarah & Thomas Donnelly. Her father died when she was 7 years old. She always remembered crawling under the adults feet in the bedroom as they sat around her fathers death bed, getting up onto the bed and kissing him goodnight.
My granny did any kind of work she could find to provide for the family after his death. My mum lived in Bread Street with her brothers and sisters, Billy, Pat, Jackie, Bridie, Mary, Vera and Cassie until she married my father (Charlie Neeson) on January 10, 1949.
My mother did not have an easy life, having had sixteen children of which eleven survived childhood she and my father did everything possible to give us a good start in life on what meagre earnings they had. They moved to live in Alexander St. West in what was known as the Pound Loney and from there to the Falls Road and finally into La Salle Drive.
My mother had great faith and would give the shirt off her or our backs if necessary to help someone else. She was instrumental in establishing the library for St. Louises Comprehensive College in Belfast which is world reknown.
She worked as a dauffer in the mill, confectionary, liquor store, school canteen, crossing guard, whatever it took to raise us. She knew everyone, everywhere. She had a plan for everything which usually meant trouble but she made things happen and got the job done!!! In spite of not having much money, she made Christmases special even going into debt to do so.
She revelled in her grandchildren and would do anything for anyone of us. As a homebody I spent pretty much every night with her which usually meant hours of Ave Maria's and prayers offered to keep her boys safe during the "Troubles". She would never go to bed until all were home safely. She prayed her way out of every worry she had and God usually answered her prayers pretty quick.
My mother loved to sing all the old Irish Ballads and if you had a question for her you had to catch her between breaths of the next song or you were out of luck!
She became involved in adult education and went back to school in her 50's which she thoroughly enjoyed.
In later years she suffered a heart attack and some minor strokes that left her unable to hold a fluent conversation with anyone. She always loved to chat with the neighbours, family and friends and this was a great loss in her life. In her last years she often had a pain in her side which the doctors told her was bronchitis or a bad flu. Her treatment was Andrews Liver Salts an indegestion remedy. She was admitted to hospital in her final days again with bronchitis which was later determined to be Stage 4 Cancer throughout her body. She died within a few days of being diagnosed.
My mother always wanted to make a pilgrimage to Fatima, she never got to do it. However, she died on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima which was also her fathers birthday.
My mother loved to sing and one of her favourites by beautiful Irish Singer Bridie Gallagher was The Green Glens of Antrim. When my mum was buried it would not have been permitted to sing this song at her funeral as it was not a hymn. When my father joined my mother and we serenaded him a last farewell of his favourite song we followed it with my mums while the piper played. I know she would have been singing right along with us.
My Mother was born in Belfast, N. Ireland to Sarah & Thomas Donnelly. Her father died when she was 7 years old. She always remembered crawling under the adults feet in the bedroom as they sat around her fathers death bed, getting up onto the bed and kissing him goodnight.
My granny did any kind of work she could find to provide for the family after his death. My mum lived in Bread Street with her brothers and sisters, Billy, Pat, Jackie, Bridie, Mary, Vera and Cassie until she married my father (Charlie Neeson) on January 10, 1949.
My mother did not have an easy life, having had sixteen children of which eleven survived childhood she and my father did everything possible to give us a good start in life on what meagre earnings they had. They moved to live in Alexander St. West in what was known as the Pound Loney and from there to the Falls Road and finally into La Salle Drive.
My mother had great faith and would give the shirt off her or our backs if necessary to help someone else. She was instrumental in establishing the library for St. Louises Comprehensive College in Belfast which is world reknown.
She worked as a dauffer in the mill, confectionary, liquor store, school canteen, crossing guard, whatever it took to raise us. She knew everyone, everywhere. She had a plan for everything which usually meant trouble but she made things happen and got the job done!!! In spite of not having much money, she made Christmases special even going into debt to do so.
She revelled in her grandchildren and would do anything for anyone of us. As a homebody I spent pretty much every night with her which usually meant hours of Ave Maria's and prayers offered to keep her boys safe during the "Troubles". She would never go to bed until all were home safely. She prayed her way out of every worry she had and God usually answered her prayers pretty quick.
My mother loved to sing all the old Irish Ballads and if you had a question for her you had to catch her between breaths of the next song or you were out of luck!
She became involved in adult education and went back to school in her 50's which she thoroughly enjoyed.
In later years she suffered a heart attack and some minor strokes that left her unable to hold a fluent conversation with anyone. She always loved to chat with the neighbours, family and friends and this was a great loss in her life. In her last years she often had a pain in her side which the doctors told her was bronchitis or a bad flu. Her treatment was Andrews Liver Salts an indegestion remedy. She was admitted to hospital in her final days again with bronchitis which was later determined to be Stage 4 Cancer throughout her body. She died within a few days of being diagnosed.
My mother always wanted to make a pilgrimage to Fatima, she never got to do it. However, she died on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima which was also her fathers birthday.
My Mother was born in Belfast, N. Ireland to Sarah & Thomas Donnelly. Her father died when she was 7 years old. She always remembered crawling under the adults feet in the bedroom as they sat around her fathers death bed, getting up onto the bed and kissing him goodnight.
My granny did any kind of work she could find to provide for the family after his death. My mum lived in Bread Street with her brothers and sisters, Billy, Pat, Jackie, Bridie, Mary, Vera and Cassie until she married my father (Charlie Neeson) on January 10, 1949.
My mother did not have an easy life, having had sixteen children of which eleven survived childhood she and my father did everything possible to give us a good start in life on what meagre earnings they had. They moved to live in Alexander St. West in what was known as the Pound Loney and from there to the Falls Road and finally into La Salle Drive.
My mother had great faith and would give the shirt off her or our backs if necessary to help someone else. She was instrumental in establishing the library for St. Louises Comprehensive College in Belfast which is world reknown.
She worked as a dauffer in the mill, confectionary, liquor store, school canteen, crossing guard, whatever it took to raise us. She knew everyone, everywhere. She had a plan for everything which usually meant trouble but she made things happen and got the job done!!! In spite of not having much money, she made Christmases special even going into debt to do so.
She revelled in her grandchildren and would do anything for anyone of us. As a homebody I spent pretty much every night with her which usually meant hours of Ave Maria's and prayers offered to keep her boys safe during the "Troubles". She would never go to bed until all were home safely. She prayed her way out of every worry she had and God usually answered her prayers pretty quick.
My mother loved to sing all the old Irish Ballads and if you had a question for her you had to catch her between breaths of the next song or you were out of luck!
She became involved in adult education and went back to school in her 50's which she thoroughly enjoyed.
In later years she suffered a heart attack and some minor strokes that left her unable to hold a fluent conversation with anyone. She always loved to chat with the neighbours, family and friends and this was a great loss in her life. In her last years she often had a pain in her side which the doctors told her was bronchitis or a bad flu. Her treatment was Andrews Liver Salts an indegestion remedy. She was admitted to hospital in her final days again with bronchitis which was later determined to be Stage 4 Cancer throughout her body. She died within a few days of being diagnosed.
My mother always wanted to make a pilgrimage to Fatima, she never got to do it. However, she died on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima which was also her fathers birthday.
