Mrs Katie Calvey

The death occurred peacefully following a short illness of Mrs Katie Calvey, nee Grealis, of Shramore Newport on 22nd October 2015 in Luton Hospital England, in the presence of her loving husband Michael and her family.

A Mass of thanksgiving to celebrate the life of Katie Calvey was celebrated by Monsignor Kevin Mc Ginnell on Tuesday 3rd November in the parish of the Holy Ghost, Luton before her final journey home to her beloved Mayo.

Her remains were reposing in St Dominick’s funeral home Newport prior to her removal to St Patrick’s Parish Church Newport.

Mass for the repose of her soul was celebrated by Fr Tod Nolan, PP, Newport, assisted by Fr Chris O’Donnell, Ballycroy.

Katie’s wedding picture, her rosary beads, her needlework and a bingo book symbols from Katie’s life, were laid in front of the altar before Mass began by her grandchildren Caroline, Patrick, Amanda and Melissa. Newport church choir with organist Pat Gibbons sang hymns close to her heart, with soloist her niece Brenda Grealis on harp, and her grandson Ryan singing some of her favourite hymns. Katie’s grandchildren Damien and Alma read the Readings and the Prayers of the Faithful were read by Ashling, Clara, John, Shane, and Kate. Her son Michael and daughter Martina carried the bread and wine to the altar and her grandchildren Orlaith and Carmen read reflections after Communion.  

Following the celebration of Mass, Katie’s remains were brought back to where she was reared in Ballycroy, where she was laid to rest. Piper Tommy Joe Loftus played the funeral cortege into the cemetery and following the prayers at the graveside by Fr Chris, Peter Masterson sang ‘A Mother’s Love’s a Blessing and ‘I’ll Remember You Love in my Prayers’

Katie Grealis (Calvey) was born on Inisbiggle and while still a young child moved to Ballygarvan Ballycroy where she grew up until such time like many of her friends, she immigrated to Scotland where she worked for a number of years. She then moved to Ramsey, England where she met and married the love of her life, Michael Calvey from Lettra, Ballycroy, and this year on the 9th of December, they would have celebrated 65 happy years of married life together.  The couple later returned to Shramore, where Michael had been reared and where they reared their family of four daughters and one son, watched them grow up and in time, leave home to set up their own homes. And as the parents grew older, they were visited frequently and cared for by their children, until they decided to move to Luton to live with their daughter Martina, approximately 4 years ago.

Katie loved to sing and dance and never lost her ability to speak her native Irish. She loved an excuse to have a family gathering or visits from friends or relations for a good sing-song. She herself would be first on the floor for a dance and the last to leave it. Once Michael retired from the forestry where he worked for many years, they regularly put a picnic together and drove off for the day enjoying each other’s company and enjoying the countryside. She loved to be where the action was and her daughter Maureen and son-in-law Padraic brought Katie to St Patrick’s Day parades, openings of festivals and any event that Katie heard tell of.

A woman of staunch faith, Katie never missed her Mass and recited the Rosary daily and in later years, looked forward to visits from her parish priests, Canon Eamon Concannon and Fr Declan Carroll. She loved her sewing which she did for a living and loved her weekly bingo in Newport, where she would meet up with many friends and neighbours.  Katie was a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and proud of all her family.

Katie Calvey is survived by her loving and heartbroken husband Michael, her daughters, Maureen (Newport), Breda (Kildare), Martina and Christina (Luton) her son Michael (Bangor), her sisters Mrs Ellen Mc Dermott, Newport and Mrs Nora Murray Ballycroy, her14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, sons-in-law Padraic, John and Robert, daughter-in-law Kathleen, nieces, nephews, god-children, sisters-in-law Mary Grealis and Kathleen Payne, brother-in-law John Calvey,  many relatives and a wide circle of friends.

Katie has left a legacy of wonderful memories, not only to her family but to the many people whose lives she touched as a friend and neighbour.

 Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.