THE family of a Fermanagh couple, who passed away within six weeks of each other amid Covid-19 restrictions, are hoping to hold a benefit event in their memory when regulations are lifted next year.

Devoted husband and wife Vincent and Maureen Donegan, from Silverhill, Enniskillen, died just six weeks apart, both aged 79.

Maureen passed away peacefully on October 20, and Vincent six weeks later, on December 4.

"It came as a big shock," said the couple's son, Vincent (Vincey) Donegan.

"Mum and dad were outgoing people up until a couple of months ago. With mum going initially, and dad going six weeks later, it’s a big loss for us but it’s a small comfort that they are away together," he told this newspaper.

Together 60 years, the couple first met after Maureen moved from her childhood home of Doagh, Derrygonnelly to Enniskillen where she lodged in Vincent's brother's house.

"They were married in 1968, and were 52 years married," said Vincey.

"When mum and dad got married, they settled in Enniskillen and they would have been one of the first people to move into Hillview," he added, noting that he and his five siblings were brought up in a very loving household.

"You mightn’t have got everything you wanted, but you certainly got everything you needed,” laughed Vincey.

The family later moved to Silverhill on the Lough Shore Road, Enniskillen.

Describing his late mum as "your archetypical Irish mother", Vincey said: "She got on with raising her family and looking after her grandkids and keeping house. She was quite a reserved person."

Explaining that his dad had a very outgoing personality, Vincey added: "Everybody knew my dad."

Vincent set up delivery company Donegan Delivery 38 years ago, and was still working for the family business up until a couple of months before he died.

"My brother took it over around 15 years ago, but my dad still had a small role within the company as a delivery driver," said Vincey, noting that his father was also involved in the entertainment business for many years.

"He would have managed bands back in the day, and he would have ran dances in the Killyhevlin; he would have been a promoter," he said.

"When we were young, we would have travelled with dad to venues and different places around the country. There was never a dull moment there," Vincey reminisced.

During her working life, Maureen was initially an employee of Taylor Woods in Enniskillen.

"Then she went to work in Wellworths on the Diamond, where she would have been well-known," said Vincey.

After getting married, Maureen left her job at Wellworths to raise a family, but returned to work in the 1990s, taking up a catering role in the kitchens of the Drumcoo Centre in Enniskillen.

In his spare time, Vincent enjoyed amateur dramatics and was a founding member of the Lakeland Players, of which he was actively involved in up until a few years ago.

"Mum would have also helped out from time to time," said Vincey.

Talking about his parents' illness, Vincey explained that they both received a cancer diagnosis within a very short space of time.

"They’d both been treated for their illnesses in Belfast in two separate hospitals. Dad was in Belfast City Hospital, and mum was in the Royal Victoria Hospital. It was really hard because they were only allowed one visitor for one hour once a week," said Vincey.

"They didn’t get to see each other for [their] last six weeks; however, dad did get home the night mum died. They made an exception, and let him out to see her," he added.

Both funerals were arranged by John McKeegan Funeral Director. Due to Covid-19 regulations, each funeral was limited to 25 people.

"It was really difficult, with the restrictions," said Vincey. "The funerals were streamed online, and we were sent wishes from all over the world. We were comforted by that.

"From all of us, we’d like to thank everybody for their support."

Much loved and cherished mother and father of Paul (Tracey), Vincey Jnr. (Caroline), Marius (Roisin), Maggie (Alan Parkinson), Monica (Mark Corrigan) and Frances (Marco Davi), Maureen and Vincent are greatly missed by their whole family circle.

"We plan at some stage in the Spring or Summer, when these restrictions are lifted, to have a benefit event in memory of mum and dad, because we didn’t get to wake them," said Vincey.