'She had a huge heart': Limerick family devastated at sudden death of beloved mum Lydia, 38

A BEAUTIFUL young mum of four children who was full of life, and loved music and fashion, has been cruelly taken from her loving family and friends at just 38-years-old.

Lydia O'Donoghue (née Mulqueen) of Lower Whitethorn Drive, Caherdavin, and formerly of Fairview Crescent, Garryowen, Limerick city passed away suddenly in University Hospital Limerick on Wednesday.

Her removal takes place this Sunday afternoon (today) from 1pm to 3pm at Cross's Funeral Home, Gerald Griffin Street, followed by removal to Christ the King Church, Caherdavin. Requiem Mass on Monday at 11.30am with burial afterwards in Mount St. Oliver Cemetery.

Lydia and husband Jonathan were teenage sweethearts. They raised four children Jamie, aged 20, Jason, 17, JJ, 13, and Analeise, 11.

On the day Lydia passed, she reshared a video of Analeise’s Holy Communion on Tik Tok with the lyrics, “Sometimes I just look at you and think to myself how did I ever get so lucky, I'll never know”.

Her oldest son, Jamie, had arrived in Lloret de Mar in Spain to celebrate his 20th birthday on the day his mum died.

“I just woke up to the call from my nana and my father. It was shocking to say the least. We immediately had to go and book flights home,” said Jamie.

In paying a beautiful tribute to his mum, Jamie said Lydia’s young age made her relate to her children more but “she was always still acting how a mother should, strict the odd time and just as caring”.

“She looked after us full-time but on the side she had her own freelance lash business, which she was just getting started with and was qualified for. She had been taking classes despite caring for us too,” said Jamie.

He paints a picture of a woman who loved music and fashion and was always the life and soul of the party.

“She was always the first up on the dance floor no matter what - wake, birthday, christening, wedding. She listened to music 24/7 and would be belting the house down with her singing. She loved artists like Rihanna, Nelly, and 50 Cent, you can tell how young she was.

"She wasn’t a homebody but she did spend most of her time at home caring for us and giving out about cleaning our rooms half the time,” said Jamie.

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Lydia loved clothes, shopped nearly every day and if somebody needed something to wear, the first person family and friends would ring was Lydia and she would let them borrow it.

She and husband Jonathan were together 24 years and built a loving family for themselves and their children.

“They were inseparable. He is a great father and partner for her. He spoiled her whenever she wanted and loved her more than anything,” said Jamie.

There have been hundreds upon hundreds of tributes paid on rip.ie and on social media in the days following Lydia’s sudden passing on Wednesday. The popular young mum had returned to Ireland in recent days having undergone a procedure abroad.

“She lit up every room she walked into with her huge smile and her personality but let’s not forget she had a huge heart,” read one tribute which gives a sense how adored Lydia was.

“We knew she was loved but I didn’t expect this much. It just really showed us how much she meant to the community, everybody who knew her knew her as extremely kind, caring, hilarious and generous,” said Jamie.

Younger brother Jason, in paying tribute to his mum, said they didn’t always see eye to eye, but that’s because she always wanted what was best for him.

“Whenever I listened to her, things always went right. I finally tried professional wrestling a year ago and even though my mother didn’t understand it - she always asked me questions about how it’s going - she would, of course, always be worried about me.

“My mother would take me to training and to shows even if she had just woken up. She put family first every time no matter how ridiculous the request.

“She gave me the best childhood I could have ever asked for and I promise to repay my future kids the same love and support she always provided me,” said Jason.

The O'Donoghue family have shared a number of photos with the Limerick Leader which reflect Lydia's life that was lived to the full.

May she rest in peace.