Family meant everything to much-loved Frances

A FAMILY and a community came together recently to lay to rest a person described as “a gorgeous person inside and outside”.

Frances Conville (née Carey) of 21 Hillview Drive, Carlow died peacefully at her home on 8 January last following a short illness. The untimely death of the 62-year-old has been a devastating loss to her heartbroken family, her husband Martin, her children Patrick, Daniel, and Hollie, grandchildren Mark, Elise, Gemma, Ava, Emelia and Ellie, her siblings and extended family.

Formerly of Pollerton Big, Carlow, Frances was the daughter of the late William and May Carey and part of a large family, including brothers Oliver, Billy, Peter, Mark, John and sisters Betty, Teresa, Ann, Ellen, Kathleen, Mary Clare, Madeleine, Bridget, Edel and the late Imelda.

Frances was very well known in Carlow, having previously worked at Braun Ireland, as school secretary at St Joesph’s NS and later at St Mary’s College, Knockbeg. Frances was also a supervisor at Carlow Heritage Society, where she formed many friendships and was highly thought of by colleagues.

In a touching eulogy at her funeral Mass in The Holy Family Church, Askea, Frances’s son Daniel spoke of the kind, generous and loving woman his mother was, totally devoted to her family.

“She gave the three of us everything she had, spoiled us unapologetically. Did the same for all her grandkids when they came along, because she just loved them so much,” said Daniel.

“Some of the proudest moments I ever had, and am sure I speak for Patrick and Hollie here, too, was having Mammy meet a new grandchild for the first time and seeing her eyes light up and how proud she was. That was everything to her, she adored them, didn’t care about anything else,” he said.

Daniel spoke of the joy his mother felt knowing her children and grandchildren were content and happy.

“All she wanted was for everyone to be content. She passed away knowing that her kids are fine, they’re all married with nice families and plenty of love and support around them.

“She got to go to Hollie and Craig’s wedding just last month and that was so important to her, and to Hollie, too, of course. Mammy told me that herself. It was Hollie’s wedding and Christmas, and she was happy then, no matter what happened,” said Daniel.

“She wanted to see her grandkids growing up a bit more, so she’d fight as best she could, she told me, but she knew she was up against it. We all did,” he added.

Daniel told the large congregation that Frances passed exactly how she wanted to – “peacefully and without fuss, on her own couch with her comfy PJs on”.

“A nice, gentle Irish goodbye, you might say – quietly slipped out the back door without saying anything to anyone. That was her all over, Mammy does things her way and we always admired that about her.

She was a gorgeous person inside and outside in every way a person can be gorgeous,” he said.

Daniel described his mother as a “trusted consultant” and recalled the easy, non-judgemental way she had about her. He said her absence for all the family was “like the sky … it covers everything”.

On behalf of the family, Daniel thanked the nurses and staff of St Luke’s Hospital and Caredoc, who helped Frances and the family in her time of need. Marc Carpenter and his team at Carpenter Bros Funeral Directors, Fr Tom Little for his support, and to everyone who visited Frances throughout her sickness and helped her in any way.

Concluding, Daniel said: “Rest easy now, Ma, you’ve earned your peace. You were the best ever. You were perfect.” Burial took place afterwards to St Mary’s Cemetery, Carlow.

Frances is survived by her husband Martin, children Patrick, Daniel and Hollie, grandchildren, son-in-law Craig, daughters-in-law Louise and Amy, brothers and sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.