An Appreciation: The late Mary Commins, Clobanna, Thurles

The death occurred recently of Mary Commins, Clobanna, Thurles. Though she was in the care of Padre Pio Nursing Home for some time, she bore her indisposition with her typical admirable courage and good humour.

Mary, (nee Ryan (A) was born in Ballyboy, Upperchurch. She was educated in secondary school, Thurles and excelled in her subjects. After leaving school she worked in the office of J. Carrigan, Solicitors where she gained experience in legal affairs and could be called on to share that experience and help out at Citizens Information in later life.

She married John and they had two sons Jim and Mark. Mary put all her energy into the farm at Clobanna, whilst also looking after John’s brother Tommy. Within a short space of each other Tommy and her husband John passed away. Mary bore her cross with faith and strength. She was a very caring person- was involved with Thurles Carer group and was always “there” for people who were stressed and struggling. When she asked “How are you” there was more to that question. With a glint in her eye – she meant you had a friend to talk to.

Mary, pictured above,  went to college some years later and mastered business studies and computers. She would bamboozle the scholars with information and would put a lot of them to shame. She had a lot of strings to her bow and was most modest about her achievements. She shared all her learning at Citizen Information office where she was a huge asset, helping people with entitlements and filling out forms etc.

The large attendance at her reposing on Friday night and her Requiem Mass on Saturday was a testimony to her standing in the community. Fr. Jim Purcell (who described her so well) celebrated Mary’s Mass. A rendition of “Gentle Mother” was sung during the ceremony and it was so ap - for Mary the song is ended but the memory lingers on. A well lived life is her legacy that our grateful hearts will treasure.

Mary is survived by sons Jim and Mark, grandchildren Anna, Eoin, Denis, Kieran and Michael, daughters – in- laws Deborah and Anita, sister Kitty Mockler (Coalfields) Teresa (Grace, Clane, Co. Kildare, nephews, nieces, sister-in-law Mary Ryan (Tonagha) brothers-in-law Joe and Shay, cousins, relatives, Padre Pio Nursing Home community, neighbours and many friends.