Obituary: Late Yvonne McGarrigle, Bundoran

A large congregation of mourners gathered recently at the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Bundoran to pay their final farewell to Yvonne McGarrigle, late of 9 Ellesmere Court, Dinglei Coush, West End, Bundoran.

Yvonne, who was one of the resort’s most able and popular citizens, as well as coming from one of its best known and respected families, passed away peacefully on October 30, surrounded by her loving family at home. 

In his Funeral homily, Fr Jeremiah Munyoki C.C. said that the deceased, working for the one employer in Sligo had shown great faithfulness and trust to her employer, a reference to her 35 years working in the x-ray department of Sligo University Hospital.

“I am told that she won the admiration of both staff and patients,” he said, adding that she was a regular attender of Mass and had helped with the church’s altar society, sang in the church choir, “with a very strong alto, and is now sleeping with the angels and the saints”.    

He said that Yvonne would drive people both to and from the choir, took care of the hymn sheets and displayed a great devotion to Padre Pio, to the extent that in 2002, she believed she was physically healed through his intercession and later made a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo, where the saint had lived.

He also alluded to her love of life, her Yoga, walking, gardening, playing the piano as well as playing golf and representing the Bundoran Golf Club in many tournaments. 

He spoke of her love of travel, where she visited places as far afield as New York, Las Vegas and Spain, in the company of great friends. The memories of her trips were always filled with great fun and laughter. 

After Holy Communion, one of her nephews, Ciaran McGarrigle expressed the deep gratitude and thanks of the family, for all those who had attended the wake and sent messages of sympathy and mass cards. 

He paid tribute to the staff from the Bayview Family Practice and Pillbox Pharmacy who were always there for us “when we needed them”,  the many staff from all disciplines in the Palliative Care Team in Sligo Hospice who were available 24/7 and had offered physical assistance and aids and emotional support where needed. 

They were also grateful to the HSE home support group of District Nurses and Carers, “three times a day these Carers worked their 'magic' and left Yvonne so comfortable and content”. 

The family thanked “the Cancer Care Nurse who was with us as Yvonne passed, Anne Marie Murray, and all of these wonderful people looked after Yvonne with amazing love and kindness which we will never forget.

He was especially grateful to those who had recalled their own friendships with his Aunt, “which lifted our hearts to hear of Yvonne’s work ethic, the treatment of her colleagues and how happy you were to work alongside her”.       

“We would just like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” he concluded.   

Deceased was the beloved daughter of the late Michael and Rita McGarrigle and sister of the late Brendan (Skip). 

Her passing will be deeply regretted and will be forever missed by her loving family, her sisters Aideen and Marie (husband John Gormley), her brother John (wife Geraldine), her beloved nephews Jonathan, Ciaran and Neil, grandnephews and grandnieces and all her many relatives, neighbours and great friends to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

After Mass of the Resurrection at the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Bundoran, which took place last Thursday November 2, burial followed afterwards in St. Ninnidh's Cemetery, Newtown, Bundoran.