Sadness at passing of 101-year-old Drumraney woman

There was great sadness in the Drumraney area this week after the passing of one of its most respected residents, 101-year-old Ellen Dolan. The deceased celebrated her 100th birthday in April 2010 and she remained an active member of the local community until very recently. Ellen Dolan (nee Murray) was a resident of Bryanmore, Mount Temple, which is in the parish of Drumraney. She died peacefully in the care of staff at Tullamore General Hospital on Sunday last, August 7. She was predeceased by her husband Joe, daughter Betty (McCarthy), granddaughters Jennifer and Elaine, and great-grandson Tómas. Her death was deeply regretted by her sons and daughters, Eileen (Collins), Maura (Moran), Gretta (Keenan), Carmel (Savage), Oliver, Tommy, Bernadette (Oxley), Josephine (Mahoney), Seamus, Padraig, Joan (Mullen), Madeline (Keneghan) and Dolores (McCormack), her sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ms Dolan, who lived on a farm, was described by Drumraney parish priest Fr Joe Brilley as "a woman of grace." In February of this year she cast her vote in the General Election at Maryland Polling Station, and two months ago she presented Fr Brilley with a chalice during his silver jubilee celebrations. "She was very close to her family," said the priest. "She was also very strong in her faith. It meant a lot to her. It was very difficult to prevent her from going to Mass during the snow and ice. She would say 'it's not that bad!'" he recalled. At a meeting of Westmeath County Council in April 2010 Cllr Joe Flanagan proposed a vote of congratulations to Ms. Dolan on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week, Cllr Flanagan described her as "a lovely lady" who came from a very well-respected family. "Even though she was blessed with a long life there was still an awful lot of sadness when the news came through about her passing," he said. "She reared a big family during difficult times and she was hale and hearty up until quite recently." Ms Dolan was reposed at the funeral home in Ballymore yesterday before removal to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Drumraney. Her funeral Mass takes place at 11 o'clock today (Wednesday) with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. May she rest in peace.