The late Teresa Maguire
It was in freak circumstances on December 17 that Teresa Maguire, of Joanstown, Rathowen, lost her life. Due to the frosty weather, she slipped at her own home, and the shock proved too much, leading to her untimely and unexpected death.A native of Rathowen, Teresa, who was 57, was born a Maguire, and after marriage remained a Maguire, having married her childhood sweetheart, Vincent. The two knew each other from their primary school days, and after a fifteen year courtship, married. This March would have marked their 34th wedding anniversary.As a couple with the same surname, Teresa was regularly called upon, in the early days of their marriage, to help out children suffering from the whooping cough, the Irish traditional belief being that bread baked by the wife of such a couple, and fed to a child with the dreaded cough, would effect a cure.Trained at Cathal Brugha Street College in Dublin, Teresa worked for a period at The Airport Hotel, before her marriage. In latter years, she helped out at the business run by Vincent and their two sons, Anthony and David, a hair and beauty supplies firm based in Longford.Held in the highest regard locally, Teresa was known for her friendliness; her generous nature, and her kindness. She was a woman of great faith, and had a particular devotion to St. Anthony. Her motto would have been: âThe love that I have is all that I have - and it's yours and yours and yoursâ.She was also a person who took great pride in her appearance, and was noted for her sense of elegance and style.Mrs. Maguire is survived by her husband Vincent; her sons, Anthony and David; her mother, Mrs. Margaret Maguire, and her father, Mr. Bartle Maguire; by her son Anthony's partner, Charlene, and their child - Mrs. Maguire's grandchild - Bella. She is also survived by her siblings - John (Dublin), Bartley (Rathowen), Kevin (Castlepollard), Dermot (England), Margaret Donegan (Australia), Caroline Tierney (Edgeworthstown), and Valerie Mulhare (Waterford), as well as by her mother-in-law, Una; her sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, relatives, friends and neighbours.The removal took place from Mrs. Maguire's home to St. Mary's Church, Rathowen, where the remains were greeted by Fr. Ciaran McGovern, PP, Newtownforbes, a friend of the family, and the funeral Mass was concelebrated by Fr. McGovern and Monsignor Patrick Earley, VG, Rathowen. Following the Mass, the remains were interred at Russagh Cemetery.The month's mind Mass takes place on Saturday January 22 at the Vigil Mass in Rathowen.