End of an era with passing of 101-year old Mollie Ward
It was the end of an era for the close-knit South Westmeath community of Rosemount at the weekend with the sad passing of Mollie Ward, who celebrated her 101st birthday on February 14 last.
The late Mollie Ward
The popular and much-loved mother of nine was born in the final year of World War 1 - in February 1918 – and witnessed huge changes throughout her lifetime She passed away peacefully at her home in Rosemount, surrounded by her loving family, on Saturday last, September 5, where she had lived for her entire life.
There were great celebrations locally to mark the major milestone of her 100th birthday last year, including the commissioning of a very special chair,
The chair, which bears the inscription “Mollie Ward” will continue to have pride of place in the centre of her beloved Rosemount as a permanent reminder of the memory of one of the locality’s oldest and best-loved citizens.
The Tidy Village group in Rosemount commissioned master Mullingar craftsman, Dave Gorman, to design and make a specially-carved chair to mark the occasion of her 100th birthday and it was placed in the middle of a sensory garden in the village which was created in her honour by members of the Tidy Village committee.
A tree was also planted outside the Ward family home last year to mark Mollie Ward’s big birthday, with the centenarian herself getting in on the act by placing a shovelful of clay around the base of the tree!
Mollie Ward will be laid to rest in rest in Rosemount Cemetery on Tuesday following Requiem Mass in St. Thomas’ Church in the village. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and adhering to government guidelines, the funeral will be a private family funeral, but Mollie's Funeral Mass will be streamed live at 11am on Hugh Flynn Funeral Directors Facebook page.
Mollie Ward is predeceased by her husband Bernard, daughters Anne Currid (Leixlip) and Pauline (Rosemount), brother Jim and sister Annie. She is deeply regretted by her family Bernard (Birr), Kathleen Feely, (Tullamore), John (Moate), Mary McCabe (Belturbet), Carmel Mahon (Birr), Willie (Tullamore), Angela (Rosemount), daughters in law, sons in law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.