Peggy Flannery née Hastings, Sion Hill, Castlebar and formerly Cregganroe, Louisburgh.  Passed away peacefully on the 10th of October 2020.

We the heartbroken family of Peggy Flannery, née Hastings, together with her sisters, brothers, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for the sympathy, kindness and support received on the loss of our beautiful Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin and Friend. 

Words cannot express our gratitude to our extended family, neighbours, friends and work colleagues who supported us in our recent sad loss.  We wish to thank most sincerely all those who sympathized and supported us in the days following, and since the passing of our beloved Peggy.  We found great comfort in the many condolences we received through Mass cards, sympathy cards, letters of sympathy, phone calls, flowers and personalized messages on RIP.ie and MidwestRadio.ie.

We acknowledge that many people would have dearly liked to pay their respects in person, but were unable to do so due to COVID 19 restrictions.  We thank you for reaching out to us from far and wide with messages of condolence.  For that we are truly grateful.  The kind and loving words spoken and written about Peggy have provided great comfort to us in these difficult days. 

Many thanks to all who joined us online and on radio for Peggy’s Funeral Mass and to everyone who travelled to be with us; to all who came and stood outside our home and to those who stood outside and paid their respects all along the route of the funeral cortège as we brought Peggy to the Church of the Holy Rosary and on to her final resting place in Kilgeever Cemetery.

Thank you to all those who stood in support outside the church during the Funeral Mass, and came to the graveyard.  We were truly overwhelmed to see the hundreds of people who lined the route with the love, support and solidarity, it radiated out to us; thank you to all who formed a Guard of Honour outside our home; to Peggy’s cousins, friends and neighbours who lined the road as we turned up for her final journey from Catneys to Cregganroe and on through Derreen to Kilgeever. 

A special mention to Peggy’s nieces and nephews who formed a Guard of Honour and had a bonfire outside her family home as Peggy travelled home to Cregganroe for the last time.  All of the above was greatly appreciated by us and we will never forget the wonderful mark of respect you have all shown to Peggy.

A special word of thanks to Father Dixy, for his spiritual guidance and comfort to Peggy during her illness.  For attending the family during our bereavement and for preparing such a beautiful and meaningful Funeral Mass.  For enhancing the ceremony with her beautiful music and singing, we express our sincere gratitude to Ann Murray.  We sincerely thank Heather Fair for arranging the Family flowers.  Thank you to Rocky Moran of Thomas Moran Funeral Directors and his colleagues for your compassionate manner, professionalism and kindness in dealing with the funeral arrangements.

Thank you to Father Gerard Needham and Father Charlie McDonnell who attended at the graveside and said the final prayers.  Thank you to Peter Sweeney, the grave diggers James Gibbons, Pat and Gerard Joyce who prepared Peggy’s final resting place in Kilgeever Cemetery with such care and detailed attention.  Thank you to the parking attendants who managed the flow of traffic at the graveyard.  To all of you who provided food and refreshments to us over the days of the funeral, in particular Carolan’s Butchers, thank you.

We wish to acknowledge with deep gratitude the help and support offered to us by Peggy’s Doctors: Dr. Desmond Kelly and Dr. Ita Mullahy; Professor O’Toole and his team in St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin; Dr. Greg Leonard and the Oncology team in University Hospital Galway and Mayo University Hospital; Dr. Cormac Small and his team in University Hospital Galway;  Dr. Ita Hartnett and her Palliative team in Mayo University Hospital,  the diligent staff in the Emergency Department in Mayo University Hospital;  the medical team in Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden; and all the doctors, nurses and auxiliary staff  involved in Peggy’s care during her long illness.  We would also like to acknowledge the knowledge, insight and support offered to Peggy and us all by the NET (Neuroendocrine Tumours) Patients Support Group throughout her cancer journey.

In particular we would like to thank those who helped us keep Peggy at home during her illness; Grace McHale and Michelle Ralph, the Public Health Nurses who supported her and our family, they were diligent, professional, caring and courteous and were our rock over the past three years.  Peggy was also supported by Ann Flynn’s expertise, empathy and kindness and for this we are very grateful.  We would also like to thank Home Instead Senior Care and in particular Peggy’s carer Eunice Isaac, who attended to her needs daily and brought much laughter and joy to our home.  We would also like to thank the specialist nurses Delia, Elaine and Sarah who travelled every other week to attend to Peggy’s needs.  Thank you to Monika Grabias who supported Peggy and our family over the last number of years; Noreen Tunney who called to Peggy and to Geraldine Flannery whose help and support was only ever a phone call away.  Thank you to all the staff in Treacy’s Pharmacy Castlebar, for going over and above in supporting Peggy with her pharmacy needs over the years.  We would also like to thank The Irish Cancer Society and night nurse Bernie Byrne who supported us on the final night of Peggy’s life.   

During these difficult months of 2020, as the pandemic has brought with it a greater understanding of what it is to have your movements restricted,  our family is very much aware that for the later years of Peggy’s life she was truly in lockdown.   With this in mind we wish to thank all of you who visited, called, texted, sent cards and letters and showed her kindness in any way.  Thank you again to all who supported Peggy’s faith; Father Gerard Needham for all the prayers, friendship and support over the years, Father Dixy for his regular visits,  and a special mention of thanks to Detta Molloy who brought Communion to Peggy on a daily basis. For all of you who regularly visited and those who would have liked to call to see Peggy since March, but stayed away to keep her safe; thank you for your sacrifice.  

And finally, Peggy you were the centre of our lives, you were the most wonderful Wife, Mother, Sister and Grandmother who filled all our lives with love.  You bore your illness with such grace, dignity, strength and courage.  We miss you so much.  It is a great comfort to know that you are now watching over us all. We will remember you as the loving, kind, caring, gentle soul, with the big heart, beautiful brown eyes and hearty laugh.  Until we meet again our loss is Heaven’s gain. Thank you for all the love and care you showed to us all throughout your life on earth.

To those who helped in anyway, your contribution makes our loss more bearable.  Please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our deepest gratitude.  The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for your intentions.  A Memorial Mass to celebrate Peggy’s life will take place at a later date.

May her kind and gentle soul Rest in Peace.