Friends and family of Derry woman raise over £1,000 in her memory

The friends and family of a Derry woman who died from ovarian cancer after a short stay in the Foyle Hospice, have raised £1,266 in her memory.

Kathleen McLaughlin’s talented sister, Margaret McGilloway made three beautiful blankets that were raffled at Foyle Hospice earlier this month.

The family joined together at the Fundraising Unit where Kathleen’s sister-in-law, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Patricia Logue gave a heart-warming tribute before drawing out the lucky winner’s tickets.

The late Kathleen McLaughlin.

Margaret has been a member of the Creggan Sewing Club for several years and had started making the blankets before Kathleen’s death.

Because of her generous and caring nature, Kathleen’s family thought a fundraiser would be a way to give back because she had done so much for everyone else.

“Kathleen introduced me to the sewing group and she was my biggest supporter,” said Margaret.

“It was actually her idea to donate the blankets to Foyle Hospice before she was even diagnosed – that was just the type of person Kathleen was, she was always looking out for other people and helping out in the community.”

In January 2020, Kathleen received the shock of a lifetime when she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. Unfortunately, six months after receiving the all-clear, she was told that her cancer had returned.

After a short stay at Foyle Hospice, Kathleen died at home in the room she was born in, on January 28 this year.

Kathleen worked in the Derry Credit Union for years and was a loving mother to four sons and one daughter and a proud grandmother to 11 grandchildren (10 grandsons and one granddaughter).

According to Margaret, her sister always saw the good in other people.

L to R, Kathleen's sister Margaret, sister-in-law Patricia and daughter Caitriona

Margaret said: “She actually said to me once that ‘nobody was born bad’ – everyone loved her, she was just full of life and an amazing person.

“She was not only my sister but my best friend as well, we did everything together!

“We all miss her so much.”

Fundraising in memory of your loved one is a wonderful way to remember them. We would like to thank Kathleen’s family, friends, and all who supported the raffle.