Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. This highlights how focusing on doing good and helping people gives life its true meaning. In more ways than one, that probably best sums up the life of Siobhán O’Donnell. Last week, friends, family and neighbours attended a coffee morning in memory of Siobhán, who passed away in June, with all funds raised going to the Oak Ward at University Hospital Waterford, Ardkeen. The Oak Ward is a 20-bed specialist inpatient palliative care unit located on the ground floor of the South East Palliative Care Centre in the Dunmore Wing.
We say a coffee morning, but in all fairness it had all the looks of a class reunion. And I’m sure those in attendance wont mind if I say, the reunion wasn’t from to-day or yesterday. Although sadness was evident as people remembered the lovely Siobhan, there was happiness also as friends gathered and swapped happy memories of a yesteryear. Older people from the Walkin Street area often reminisce about the beautiful Haugney Orchard ( where the Day Centre is now located) and what a great attraction the red apples were. Mrs Haughney can rest assured, that the same good feel factor was very much to the fore at the coffee morning.
At the centre of each story was Siobhán, and how, had she been in attendance, she would be moving from table to table, making sure everyone was OK, finding out their ‘Creamery number’, and making sure nobody was forgotten.
Threecastles
A daughter of Threecastles, Siobhán attended the local primary school there before moving on to secondary school at the Presentation Convent, Kilkenny. For any youngster, moving from a country school to a bigger one in the city has its challenges. However, Siobhán took to it like the proverbial duck to water. And this happened in no small way due to the friends she quickly made at ‘The Pres’. Eileen Hennessy was one such friend, and it was a friendship that was to last long after school finished. “Siobhán was just one of those people who loved life and living it to the full,” said Eileen. “If you were to ask anyone who knew her, they would say the same thing about Siobhán – she just helped people, as if that was her mission in life.”, continued Eileen. Having finished school, Siobhán worked in the Tax Office in Kilkenny for a number of years before being transferred to the Thurles Tax Office. Again, her lovable personality ensured that work colleagues soon became friends. Mind you, when Championship hurling began and Tipperary and Kilkenny faced each other on the field, there were no half measures given or taken – all in good spirit, of course, and once the final whistle blew, all was forgiven and forgotten.
Friendship
The biggest part of Siobhán’s life was catching up with friends from all over, and the massive attendance at her funeral was testament to that. Taking care of the less privileged in society was important to Siobhán. Putting herself second for the benefit of others was paramount to how she lived her daily life. She helped people on a weekly, indeed daily basis, without any fuss. She was a great advocate of leaving the camera at home when doing a good deed, and people were seldom aware of the extent of the voluntary work she did. Her biggest concern in the last few months of her life was that she hadn’t done enough to help others. Shem O’Donnell, brother of Siobhán, spoke of the great work being done at The Oak Ward in Waterford and said he was delighted that so many people came together to help the cause.
Speaking to the ‘Kilkenny Observer’, Eileen Hennessy (Morrissey) said she was delighted with the numbers that turned out for the coffee morning. Eileen said that there were many friends who helped out with raffle prizes, making the tea and coffee and a multitude of other tasks. She thanked St Mary’s Day Care Centre for the use of the premises, Mary Wong for hosting her raffle, and to the many people who turned up, or who gave donations.
Another organiser, Marie Boyd said: “It was a great turn out for both Siobhán and ‘The Oak Ward’. It was a massive testament for the love that people had for Siobhán”, said Marie
The total sum raised on the day was € 7,800. If anyone wishes to make a donation they can contact
Eileen Morrissey on 086 8262149 or Marie Boyd on 086 3271087.
