Louis Walsh's mother is now in a 'happier place', funeral mass hears
Louis Walsh's mother Maureen is in a "happier place" after enduring 12 years of "pain and hardship" battling Alzheimer's Disease, her funeral mass heard.
Maureen Walsh passed away on Monday at the age of 94 at St Attracta's Nursing Home in Charlestown, Co Mayo. She had battled with Alzheimer's for 12 years.
Huge crowds gathered at the Church of the Holy Family in Kiltimagh to say goodbye to the Mayo native, including her famous son, Louis, who looked grief-stricken as he arrived at the church behind his mother's coffin.
Louis' brother Frank and sister Sarah addressed mourners on behalf of their family, to remember their mother.
Frank said: "The last 12 years were tough on her, tough, tough, tough, tough for the family, but very tough on her.
"And I have to say, it wasn't my happiest days going out to see her. I wasn't as good as some of the other people in the family, particularly Evelyn and Sarah, they were constant visitors.
"But I did not like going out to see her in that state. And I don't think she would have liked to have seen it either. It's a merciful release after that 12 years of pain and endurance and hardship, and she would not have liked to end it up the way she did.
"So I think Maureen, you're in a happier place now. You're in a happier place."
Frank thanked the crowds that came to the house on Thursday night, joking his former X Factor judge brother Louis "must've been charging admittance".
Paying tribute to his mother, Frank said: "She was famous for her tea, Barry's Tea. She brought Barry's Tea with her everywhere.
"When she went off on the Midwest tours, she brought the sausages, the rashers and the Barry's tea.
"And apparently, you could smell the rashers and the sausages on the floor that she was on in the hotel. I've gone with her on some of those trips, and they were great craic. All she wanted to see was her family around her. That was the most important thing. She loved it. And if we showed up, as we did sometimes, without letting her know, she would be shocked. But very, very happy with it, very happy with it."
He said she believed deeply in "family".
"Maureen lived for her family. She was the heart. She was the rock. We all loved her, respected her and feared her, but she always wanted us to be together.
"She was a hard worker. She had great faith and she found joy in simple things. But if you overstepped the line, she'd give you a look, and you know you were going no further or a pinch. She was a great believer in education and self improvement, and she pushed us and pushed us and hopefully she didn't do a bad job.
"She probably was easier on her grandchildren than she was on her children. I think that's quite normal," he said.
His sister Sarah recalled how Mrs Walsh's spirit was still around on Thursday night when the family were saying prayers.
"We know she loved Michael English. She loved Mike Denver, Brendan Shine, Bridie Gallagher and the Wolfe Tones. We used to go on these trips with the local radio station Midwest, and mammy had it on 24/7.
"Just a strange thing happened yesterday afternoon, we were saying the prayers, and we could hear music, and someone said, 'Turn off the radio.'
"But there was no the radio in the house. Somebody's phone had started playing Midwest radio. We think Maureen was pulling a quick one on us again.
"As I said, it was on constantly. It was never turned off, even yesterday she put it back on. She said she used to go to bed with Michael Commins (Mid-west radio host) twice a week. Go figure."
Among the mourners included Westlife's members Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, who was with his wife Gillian, and Kian Egan who was with his wife Jodie.
Mrs Walsh was brought to the Kiltimagh chapel in a wicker coffin. A photograph of the 94-year-old was placed on the coffin as well as a spray of white flowers.
Symbols to the altar included rosary beads, a picture of Padre Pio because of her "strong faith", a Mayo flag, her radio "that was always tuned to Mid-West", her rolling pin, "because Granny was famous for her scones and tarts", as well as a family photo, a pack of cards and Ireland's Own because "she loved a game of 25".
Father Michael Quinn told mourners Mrs Walsh had a "great impact" on many people "throughout her life".
He said: "We give thanks for the great gift of our life, 94 years of life. It's a great gift of life itself. And we give thanks for the great impact she's had on so many people throughout her life, as well, evidenced again, by so many here gathering at the church, so many who called to our home yesterday evening as well, and many who have contacted by line two to the family, all evidence of the impact, the great impact that Maureen has had on so many lives throughout her own life as well.
"We know she'd had difficulty the last years (with her health), and we pray she's now free of all of that and the loving kindness of God, and be reunited again with her husband, Frank, her daughter, Catherine, her parents, Mark and Delia, her son Sean and her son-in-law, Pat, who have all predeceased her."
Father Quinn said she was a "treasured neighbour" as well as being a brilliant mother.
He said: "Others remember her as a true friend over many years. For more, they recall a great work colleague who brought dedication and enjoyment into their place of work here in town. Maureen was a treasured neighbour.
"Her door was always open to drop in to enjoy her hospitality, have a chat and a laugh, she was always there to be the best support she could be.
"Perhaps what stands out above all is Maureen as a mother. Maureen came into the world at the beginnings of the 1930s… in what were particularly difficult times. The Great Depression had begun in 1929 and the social and economic situation, both in Ireland and the world, was very challenging, and for the end of Maureen's first decade of life, World War II would begin in 1939 and last until 1945 bringing further hardship to our already very difficult times."
But he said "one of the most difficult things" was when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease more than 10 years ago.
"And all the more challenging to accept when a person is outgoing and verbatious and sociable, very interested in people, and for these reasons, the past number of years have been very difficult for you."
He said she faced the highs and lows of her life "with courage".
"She faced them with courage. She found strength above all in her faith," he added.
Mrs Walsh was buried afterwards in Kilkinure Cemetery, Kiltimagh.
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