Miss Carmel Hayes

MISS Carmel Hayes was a lady of many facets — all of them admirable — with a cheerful, kindly and thoroughly positive outlook on life.

Miss Hayes, who was in her 89th year, passed away at her residence, 20 Cedar Court, Downpatrick, on Sunday, January 17, after a life well lived. From a prominent local family, she was an active member of her community, to which she contributed in many ways.

She was born in Killough on July 8, 1927, one of six children to Michael and Margaret Hayes. The family later moved to Downpatrick where her father became clerk of the Urban Council and her mother ran Denvir’s Hotel in English Street.

She was educated at St Joseph’s school in Killough and later Sacred Heart of Mary Grammar School in Lisburn before entering the School of Pharmacy in Belfast.

Her first position was in a pharmacy in Newcastle before she moved to the Rosetta Pharmacy, Ormeau Road, where she spent 20 years dispensing medicines and wise counsel in equal measure.

She later worked in the Co-op Pharmacy on the Lisburn Road and Baird’s Pharmacy, also in Belfast, before retirement.

She never learned to drive and would travel on her daily commute with her friends, the Nolan sisters — Lulu and the late Mena – from Edward Street, Downpatrick.

Highly intelligent and hard working, she had a tremendous thirst for knowledge, which she sated with her lifelong love of reading.

Through her career and outside interests, she had a wide circle of loyal friends, who appreciated her many fine qualities, not least of them being her companionship, utter integrity, good humour and razor sharp wit.

She lived with her sister, Clare, on the Strangford Road. Following Clare’s death some years ago, she moved to an apartment at the Cedar Court sheltered housing complex where she was happy and contented.

The funeral service took place last Thursday, January 21, in St Patrick’s Church where requiem mass was celebrated by Canon Sean Rogan and Canon Hugh Starkey, a lifelong friend of Miss Hayes from their days growing up in Killough.

Addressing mourners, Canon Rogan said Miss Hayes was immensely proud of her faith and described her as an ecumenist and an “outreacher to fellow Christians of all denominations and those of no particular religious affiliation.” He said her ecumenical outlook included contributing to a restoration fund for Down Cathedral some years ago.

He said she loved conversation and the company of others, including children, listing Knockevin School in Downpatrick as one of her many abiding interests. Miss Hayes, he said, had the ability of “synchronising her life as a Christian, with joyful secular living.”

Miss Hayes was laid to rest in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Killough Road.

She is survived by her sister, Helen, twin brother Maurice, sisters-in-law Dympna and Joan, nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces. She was predeceased by her brother, Ray, and sisters Joan and
Clare.