A dearly loved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Molly Breen (née McGovern) passed away peacefully on December 6, 2014, aged 96 years. Born in 1918 in Springtown, Kinawley to Margaret and Patrick McGovern she grew up on the family farm, and went to Slieve Russell school, with her beloved brother Patrick who sadly predeceased her in 2011 aged 95.

Originally christened Mary she was always affectionately known as Molly a name that suited her gentle, loving and generous nature. In 1949, she married Patrick Breen, a farmer, and moved to Corrameen, Kinawley. Together they had seven children Mary, James, Joe, Carmel, Teresa, Bernadette and Gerard and they lived happily and worked hard on the farm until Patrick sadly passed away in 1969 after a short illness. Molly was then left with a young family and a farm to manage.

She faced this challenge courageously, worked very hard and did a great job supported by her strong faith in God and also by many kind relatives and neighbours within a strong farming community typical of that time.

As the years went by, she relished in becoming a grandmother to 18 grandchildren whom she adored and they in turn adored her and had long conversations with her, learning from her great strength and wisdom and enjoying her sense of humour. To her complete delight, she welcomed her great grandson a couple of months before her passing and was overjoyed sitting in the midst of her family as she nursed him on her lap.

Molly’s great loves were her family and her deep faith both of which sustained her and kept her happy throughout her long and healthy life. She also loved farming and the outdoors and helped on the farm for as long as she was able.

She participated in community and church activities including the Apostolic Society which enabled her to pursue her love of knitting. She loved to spend time with her children which included travelling to Leitrim, Dublin and London. A very special family trip was to Lourdes in 1987 which she loved and which was her first time abroad.

She was open to the many changes that she saw in her long life and got her first mobile phone at the age of 90 and loved it!

Molly will be missed by all who knew her for the special warmth of her presence, her radiant welcome for everyone, her wonderful smile, her gracious and compassionate nature, her great memory and her ability to recall events and to tell stories from the past in great detail which she did right up until the end of her long life.

Molly’s Funeral Mass was concelebrated by Fr Kelly and Fr Comiskey in St Naile’s Church, Kinawley on December 8, 2014 and her Month’s Mind Mass was on January 10, 2015.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Pat Blake, Derrylin. She is survived by her seven children and extended family.