Local victim of Cork road tragedy is laid to rest
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Marie (Mary) Coughlan, a local woman who tragically died in a road collision in Cork, was remembered at her funeral Mass last week as a beautiful, and vibrant woman “whose light radiated to all whom she met”.
A native of the Kilgarvan area, near Athlone, Marie was one of two people who lost their lives in a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the N72 Killarney to Mallow Road on Sunday, March 30. She was aged in her early 60s.
The crash also claimed the life of 41-year-old Susan O'Sullivan, from Mallow.
Marie had spent several years working in the AIB Bank in Cork.
Her funeral Mass in Ballinahown on Friday heard that she had spent her earlier years growing up in Birmingham, but had always thought of Ireland as home.
At the service in St Colmcille's Church, Fr Brendan O'Sullivan spoke of the sense of sadness felt among the community since news of the tragic accident emerged.
“As we come to celebrate the life of Marie, we are saddened at her untimely and tragic passing, taken so quickly from among you.
“We come together as a community with sadness in our hearts, to lose somebody so beautiful, and so young in their life,” said the priest.
“She loved her family, and she loved her friends. She was a beacon of light that shone on every mind and heart of all who knew her and loved her.
“She had a beautiful warm presence. Marie was a wonderful person who embraced life to the full,” added Fr O’Sullivan.
The church in Ballinahown was filled with loved ones, neighbours, friends, and her AIB work colleagues on Friday morning, as the community joined together in prayer to mourn the unexpected loss.
“We hope in some way, you will find comfort in the love and support of family and friends in the heart of this community,” said Fr O'Sullivan.
“She would be so happy that you are here, and to see so many present.”
Symbols of her life were brought forth by her loving family members, Brian, Rachel, Rose and Gina, including a photograph of her nieces and nephews to represent their close relationship, flowers for her love of gardening, a scarf to represent her love of glamour and fashion in life, and, finally, holy water as a symbol of her faith.
Marie was predeceased by her beloved parents Pat and Marie.
Fr O'Sullivan continued by expressing sympathies to the Coughlan and Claffey families, as Marie is sadly missed by her sister Helen, brother Pat, brother in law Eugene, sister in law Rosie, adored nieces and nephews, Eleanor, Louise, Rachel, Brian and Justin.
She reposed at O'Brien's Chapel of Rest, Baldwin Street, Mitchelstown on Wednesday, April 2.
She was then brought home to the Midlands, where she reposed in Flynn's Funeral Home, Moate, on Thursday before her removal to St Colmcille's Church, Ballinahown, that evening.
Burial took place in Clonmacnoise Cemetery after her funeral Mass on Friday (April 4).
May she rest in peace.