Widepsread sadness and regret has been expressed following the death of Mr. Mervyn Archibald Hassard, late of Aughamullen, West End, Bundoran, County Donegal who passed away at St. Phelim’s Nursing Home, Dromahair, County Leitrim on May 8, 2022.

Mervyn Archibald Hassard was born on February 27, 1929 to Edward and Edith Hassard in Aughamullen, Derrygonnelly, Co. Fermanagh. He was the youngest in the family of six boys.

In the 1930s, the Hassard family moved closer to the village of Derrygonnelly. Mervyn left school at 12 and commenced his first job working in the local creamery collecting milk from the farmers on a horse and cart.

Following in the footsteps of his brothers, he joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1947. He spent time in the West Indies, Malaysia, and Singapore. He returned home in 1952 with malaria, which affected him all throughout his life.

In the early 1960s, he met Alexina Young in Bundoran, and they got married in 1964. Prior to Mervyn getting married, he lived with his brother George and his wife Mabel in Tonagh, Derrygonnelly. Mervyn and Alexina had two children, Sylvia and Alex.

Mervyn was employed by Post and Telegraphs, which is BT today from 1952 up until his retirement in 1986. His work with BT involved travelling to Enniskillen and later Omagh, he was well known for transporting people to and from these destinations.

Mervyn was the church warden in the Church of Ireland, Bundoran and Alexina the organist. Mervyn took early retirement from BT to take care of his wife Alexina.

After her premature death in 1990 he enjoyed spending time in his garden growing all sorts of produce, his garden being the talk of all who passed it.

Mervyn then decided to start travelling again, and did so annually enjoying lots of holidays across Europe and beyond, as well as spending time with his daughter Sylvia, son-in law Jerome, and grandchildren Xavier and Ava in California.

In turn they all returned home to Bundoran every summer to spend time with their grandfather.

The funeral service was held in Bundoran Church of Ireland Parish Church on May 15, 2022, conducted by Reverend Richard Beadle and Reverend Albert Dawson followed by interment at the family plot in Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Breslin Funeral Directors Bundoran.

Mervyn is survived by his son Alex and partner Susan, daughter Sylvia, son-in-law Jerome and grandchildren Xavier and Ava as well as sister-in -law Jean along with all his nieces and nephews from his five beloved brothers and sisters-in law who have passed before him (Willie and Rea, Eddie and Lily, Jimmy and Lily, George and Mabel and Jack).