There was just close family present when Tina McDonald was laid to rest last week. Her sisters, Madge and Pauline, brother Seamus, sister and brother in laws and much loved nieces and nephews. And of course, her husband Ciaran, with whom she shared her life.

The current Covid-19 crisis puts restrictions on the number of people who can attend funerals but Tina’s brother, Seamus Owens, explained that perhaps that was apt: “She was a quiet and modest person in many ways and the funeral was quiet and modest too, and maybe she would have liked that,” he said.

Tina, from Teemore, suffered a brain aneurysm last week with her husband Ciaran cradling her in his arms. She passed away in hospital later but in her death, she gave the opportunity of life to others through the gift of organ donation. It would have given her comfort according to Seamus. “She was a big supporter of organ donation. Both herself and Ciaran carried cards so when it came to the time it was a simple choice, because everyone knew what Tina would have wanted. She would have wanted to help as many people as possible. It would have made her happy to know that.”

Tina was one of five children to Jim and Rose Owens of Teemore. Predeceased by her father Tina was also predeceased by her brother John, who passed away last year after a long battle with illness. Madge, Pauline and Seamus make up the family.

“She was very close to her brother John. They were very close growing up and that death hit her hard. Herself and Ciaran had built a house next to John’s. She is lying next to John now, it has been a massive shock to us all,” Seamus explained.

Tina worked in the glass plant in Encirc where Seamus explained that her shift started at 7 am but for his sister that meant that she was in work for “quarter past six. She always wanted to be on time and ready to go. And when her shift was over, she would have everything right for the person coming on”.

An avid reader Tina would have a few chapters of a book read before she went off to work in the morning and was often found with a book in hand in the evenings. She was also someone who was at one with the world around her.

“Tina loved nature, and flowers and you could always find her feeding animals. She loved being outside,” Seamus explained.

Tina and Ciaran enjoyed travelling together but Tina was very much rooted in her home and in her love for her family.

“She treated every niece and nephew as a godchild. She was there for every occasion and we will all miss her so much,” her brother said.

On the day of her brain aneurysm Tina had woken with a sore throat and after calling work she was told to stay at home. The Covid-19 climate meant precautions were being taken.

“When we got the call that something had happened, we thought that maybe she had the virus or something like that. It was all so sudden and such a shock.”

Her husband was with Tina as she took her aneurysm. Her passing will leave a huge hole in his life but he will take some solace from the fact that in her passing she offered the gift of life to others through her organ donation.

Funeral arrangements were by Pat Blake funeral directors, Derrylin. The Funeral Mass took place on Sunday morning in St Mary’s Church, Teemore followed by burial in adjoining cemetery. Messages of condolence can be emailed to tina.mcdonald.rip@gmail.com while donations can be made to MacMillan Cancer Support via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tinamcd