16th December 2024

 

As we approach Joey’s first anniversary date, we, Mary, Adrian, Claire & Aoife together with the extended Smith family would like to express our sincere thanks to you all for the wonderful support afforded to us prior to, at the time of and since his passing last December. We will be eternally grateful to you all for your kindness, generosity and assistance in so many ways, too numerous to mention.

Heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful staff in Our Lady’s Hospice, Blackrock for their exceptional care of Joey during the final 4 weeks of his life. Words could not describe the superb attention and support that both he and we, as a family, received at that time.

Our sincere thanks to all the medical staff right throughout Joey’s cancer journey, the local surgery staff - Dr. Seán, Theresa, Veronica & Helen; Bryan, Emer & staff in McDevitt’s; the staff in Sligo, Cavan, Tallaght & Mater hospitals and also Fiona at Ballinamore Community Nursing unit; all in Sligo Cancer Support Services and The Sligo Stoma Support Group.

To our extended families and friends, many of whom travelled from abroad to visit Joey in the Hospital and Hospice, we say a massive thank you. To those who lined the roads and streets from Bawnboy and Corlough through Corraleehan and past the local Ballinamore GAA grounds on his final journey home - we were so appreciative and moved by this wonderful gesture. To everyone who attended at the Funeral Home, Funeral Mass & burial especially those who travelled from the 4 corners of Ireland and beyond – Mile Buíochas! Special thanks to our P. P. Fr. Seán Mawn, our neighbour Fr. Dermot Prior and to Fr. Gerry Comiskey for officiating at Joey’s funeral Mass. And to Gerarda, Katie, Muireann, Gráinne & Damian for the beautiful vocals and music in the Church. To the stewards, the various Guards of Honour, coffin bearers, readers, gravediggers, videographer Niall, sacristan Monica, our colleagues in the funeral business; Gay, Barbara & staff in Priors and all those who brought food, donated to the Cancer services and offered practical support, we will be forever indebted to you. And thank you all for the thousands of Mass & Sympathy cards, the messages of condolence by letter, online and by text that we all have received over the last 12 months.

We continue to be overwhelmed by everyone’s caring and comforting words.

 

First Anniversary Mass on Saturday 13th December 2025 at 12 noon in St. Patrick’s Church, Ballinamore

Anniversary Mass may be viewed on www.churchtv.ie/ballinamore

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Joey’s Rainbow

(see 2nd photo above)

A rainbow appeared over Oughteragh Cemetery
Just before Joey was laid to rest
Its varied colours perhaps indicative
Of the many strands to his life
The sculptor’s skills where beauty was crafted
By stone and chisel and heart
The passion for sport
As player and father and follower
And above all else the deepest of love for his family
They were his crock of gold.

We know life is unlike a true perfect symmetry
So many challenges come to test
Its very passage so it’s imperative
That we face up to times of strife
Unwelcome ills on bodies are grafted
But love will still stand apart
A constant support
Though time surely treats us as borrower
Joey used it well so no need to make this a homily
His was a heart of gold.

 

Damian Smyth, Dublin

(Mary's brother-in-law)