‘The loss of an incredible woman’ - the late Mary Grimes Ballyshannon

There was a large attendance at the funeral of the late Mary Grimes, Allingham Avenue, The Mall, Ballyshannon at the local St Patrick's Church on Monday morning, before burial in Abbey Assaroe graveyard.

At the beginning of the Funeral Mass, Fr Vincent Finnegan OFM described her death as “the loss of an incredible woman”.  

Later in his homily, Fr Vincent said deceased was the first daughter of the late Vincent and Rose Grimes, describing Mary as a remarkably gifted woman who had given a lifetime of service to her job, her community but most of all, her family.

After leaving school Mary went to Dublin where she worked with the Eastern Health Board, before returning to her native Donegal where she joined the North Western Health Board. 

This later included working in Manorhamilton, Letterkenny and Sligo before again returning to Manorhamilton, the then headquarters of the old NWHB.

Fr Vincent said: "She was passionate about her job. And she was a skilled mathematician and was so efficient at her job in the health board. 

"She found herself at the call of many organisations and was only too happy to give of herself without any care for herself," he said.

He described how Mary had travelled all over the world with her friends and was known as a stickler for detail, "having done her homework of any of the places she was to visit".

"You name it, she knew where it was and studied the map, even in the dark I am told". 

He recalled a humorous story about the deceased and her sister Bernie on a visit to Egypt, when a bottle of lavender perfume was dropped accidentally going through security, the smell wafting everywhere and security thinking that they were trying to smuggle into or out of the country.

He added: "She adored her family, she adored her nieces and nephews and naturally gravitated towards them as they did to her. She had a youthful vigour  and the shrieks of laughter could be heard throughout the house in her company.

A visit from their Aunt Mary for the weekend for the nieces and nephews invariably saw babysitting intertwined with copious amounts of fun, good food and watching the rented videos.

"Mary had great colleagues and friends up and down the years and a great pal of hers was Ursula who sadly died during Covid," Fr Vincent added and asked for prayers for Ursula as well. 

He spoke of her involvement in the walking club and wine club as well as a variety of other organisations including the Aodh Ruadh GAA club which she gave so much time to

He described the deceased as a "woman of faith" and that before illness took her to Mullinasole she had also served on the Parish Council for a number of years. She was also a Minister of the Eucharist and a member of the Resurrection Choir, as well as helping the students with their reading at Scoil Cathriona.    

"There were numerous other ways of using her talents and gifts at the service of the wider community. There was no end to how much she gave of herself," Fr Vincent added, while also alluding to the last six years of her life, which he described as a trial for her and her family through her illness, especially with a death at Christmas time.

After Communion, and on behalf of the family, her niece Karen spoke of how that deep family love from the deceased had manifested itself within the family and how Mary would have been “chuffed” with the stories of her life being recalled and that she was probably singing with the choir, during the funeral service, because of her passion for music.

Karen recalled: “She was such a kind and gentle and caring lady. She loved to learn and knew a lot about everything but was modest and as she used to say herself, ‘it’s all useless information’”.

Referring to her involvement with so many aspects of community life, she said that Mary was “a proud Donegal woman who always told us to leave the money in the town … and who has left us with a deep rooted love for Ballyshannon and Donegal.”    

Mary is predeceased by her parents Vincent and Rose, her brother Jack and sister in law Nora. 

She will also be sadly missed by her sisters Esther and Bernie O'Malley, brother In law Seamus, nieces and nephews and all extended family and friends to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

Burial followed afterwards in the Abbey Cemetery. 

Family flowers only were requested, with donations in lieu, if so desired to Alzheimer's Society of Ireland c/o John McGee & Sons Funeral Directors or any family member.