Mrs Sheila Cross

IT was with great sadness that the local community learned of the death of Mrs Sheila Cross, of Ross Road, Ardglass.

Mrs Ross, who was 97, passed away at King’s Castle Nursing home on October 20.

She was one of a family of eight and was born with her twin brother, Artie, on the family farm near the border town of Lifford, Co Donegal, in 1921.

She worked for a time in Dublin, then moved to Ardglass and in February 1947 married Tom Cross in Killough.

Sheila and Tom had six children — Laurence, Elsie, Charlie, Martin and a nephew, Dermot Vint, who they reared from a young age. Their baby daughter, Kathleen, died in infancy.

Sheila had a warm, outgoing personality. She was interested in people and had time for everyone. She was generous in nature and was always full of humour, especially with children and young people. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, often joining them in their fun and games.

Sheila’s rock was her faith in a loving God, which she passed on gladly to her children. The esteem in which she was held by the local community was shown by the large number of people who attended her requiem mass in St Nicholas’ Church Ardglass on October 23.

Her son, Charlie, who is a Passionist priest, was the chief celebrant and homilist. He spoke of the joy that his mother brought into the world and her acceptance of the inevitable suffering that came to her in old age.

Other priests in attendance at the mass were Fr Bernard Lowe CP, Fr Ignatius Waters CP, Fr Brendan McKeever, CP, Fr Kenneth Brady, CP, Fr Pat Sheridan CP, all from Mount Argus, Dublin, and Fr Brian D’Arcy CP, from Tobar Mhuire, Crossgar.

At an evening service clergy present were Fr Thomas Scanlon CP, Fr Patrick Duffy CP, Fr Gary Donegan CP, Fr Kieran Creagh CP, Fr Anthony O’Leary CP, Brother Brendan Gallagher CP, Fr Eugene McCarthy, Fr John Craven CP, and Fr Gerry McCloskey, parish priest of Ardglass.

Sheila was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery beside her husband, Tom, who predeceased her 22 years ago.

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, two sisters, Bridie and Alice, and the family circle.