Andrea touched the lives of so many in Ballon

ANDREA Zerafa (Rooney), Laragh, Ballon passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in the care of the staff in the Oak Ward, South-East Palliative Care Centre, University Hospital Waterford. Andrea was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and, while she fought courageously, she finally lost her battle on Tuesday 29 July.

Daughter of Heather and the late Joe Zerafa, Andrea was well-known and held in high regard in the area and touched the lives of many people during her far-too-short life. She was gentle, kind and caring and always made time for a cheerful chat regardless of how busy she was.

She married Stephen Rooney from Clones, Co Monaghan in 2008 and the couple had three children, Ethan, Jonah and Winnie.

Andrea worked at Collen Construction in Dublin before returning to Ballon in 2003 to establish the family business along with her brother Dion, who said: “Dad and I built the business, but Andrea made it.” 

As stated by her husband during the funeral service, “she put her heart and soul into it”.

“It’s the centre of the community,” he said, “and we are all proud of what she did.” As a teenager, Andrea was a highly-skilled athlete who excelled in shot putt. Among her many honours were gold in Leinster finals in 1992 and 1995 and a national silver medal in 1995.

Among those posting condolence notices and tributes on Rip.ie were Ballon/Rathoe Community Games and AC, who stated that they were ‘truly heartbroken due to the untimely passing of one of their previous members. Andrea and her family have been great competitors and supporters of Ballon/Rathoe Community Games and AC and it gave her great joy to watch her children take part with a club that she was a big part of in her youth. She was so proud of her three children Ethan, Jonah and Winnie, who all take part and have excelled in their chosen sports. They have all followed in their mother’s footsteps and have represented their club and county on the national stage in swimming, soccer and track and field.

‘Only recently, Ethan won a national fourth place medal at the swimming finals, Winnie represented Carlow in 2024 in indoor soccer and the sprint, winning two fourth place national medals, while Jonah and the boys’ U12 soccer team won county gold, with Andrea’s husband Stephen as one of the coaches, as well as representing Carlow in the U12 long jump.

‘Heather, her mother, was also a previous officer in the club and won PRO of the Year Award and continues to offer her support.’ 

Ballon GFC wrote: ‘The officers, players and members of Ballon GFC wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the Rooney and Zerafa families on the sad passing of Andrea, a cherished mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend to many within our community.

‘Andrea was a wonderful person who gave so much of her time, energy and kindness to our club, for which we will be forever grateful and thankful. Her generosity, warmth and dedication will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by all who knew her. We hold her family in our thoughts and prayers at this very sad and difficult time and we hope they find comfort in the love and respect felt for Andrea by all in Ballon GFC and wider community’'

Likewise, Burren Rangers Hurling Club extended its deepest sympathies to the Rooney and Zerafa families ‘on the sad passing of Andrea, a dear wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend to so many people within our community. Andrea was a very kind and welcoming person at the Zerafa family business in Ballon and always showed support and generosity to our club in so many ways.’ 

Another posting described Andrea as ‘such a brave and beautiful woman, she gave us all a masterclass on what it means to fight for your life’.

Andrea’s remains reposed at Kearney’s Funeral Home, Fenagh before being removed to All Saints Church, Aghade on Friday 1 August for funeral service, followed by burial in the adjoining churchyard. The attendance at the funeral home was one of largest ever witnessed, with people filing past and sympathising with her grieving family continuously for more than seven hours.

Andrea will be greatly missed by her husband Stephen, children Ethan, Jonah and Winnie, mother Heather, brothers Dion and Peter, mother-in-law Anne, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, neighbours and friends. She was predeceased by her father Joe in 2009.