Friday 17 February 2017

MY FUNERAL TODAY OF 108 YEAR OLD MARGARET

This morning at 11 am in The Oratory I will have the great privilege of celebrating the funeral of 108 year old Margaret Dunbar from Ballyclare in County Antrim.

Margaret RIP passed away on Tuesday last. In two days time - Monday February 20th she would have been 108 years old.

That means that Margaret was already 5 years old when WORLD WAR 1 began and 44 years old at the outbreak of WORLD WAR 11

She was in her garden until well into her 90's. 

I got to know her many years ago when I celebrated the marriage of her daughter Joan to the Irish flautist Seam Tansey. 

MARGARET DUNBAR 108


Seamus Tansey is an acknowledged expert on the Irish Flute and in fact, as far as I know, taught the famous Michael Flatley to play the flute. 


SEAMUS


Seamus is a member of The Oratory congregation at Larne and delights us all every Christmas and Easter with his music and recitations. 

MARGARET DUNBAR - formerly Margaret Melville was born on 20th February 1909 at Whiterock Belfast - which was then in the countryside outside Belfast.

Her parents were John Mevville (publican) and Rhoda (housewife).

She had three sisters Meta (died at 32); Rhoda (died at 83) and Sadie (died at 76). Her brother Sam died at 66. 

Margaret Married John Dunbar ( farmer and boiler man from Straid) in 1936 and they lived at Greenisland outside Belfast. Sadly John was killed in work at the age of 44 in 1959 by falling from a ladder. 

Margaret and her two daughters Joan and Judith moved to Ballyclare after John died and Margaret lived in that house for the rest of her life. 

Margaret was an avid gardener right into her 90's staying in the garden until darkness frll.

She liked TV sports and followed Formula One racing, snooker, football and rugby.

She loved to sing and her two favourite songs were: PLEASE RELEASE ME LET ME GO and WHEN ITS' SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES. 




She never drank alcohol but was happy to sit in a pub drinking minerals. 

She was a stickler for table manners and was "fiesty" until the end of her life. 

MARGARET - CHURCH AND RELIGION:




She was a Presbyterian by birth but also attended the Church of Ireland where she liked the singing. Her churches were Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church and St Patrick's Church of Ireland in Jordanstown.




Margaret was always absolutely open minded when it came to churches and religion. 

As a result she is being buried from The Oratory in Larne.

It is a great privilege for me to be celebrating her funeral for two reasons:

1. She is one of, if not the oldest person in Ireland.

2. She is someone from a Presbyterian / Church of Ireland background that has entrusted her last religious service to me.

Margaret's mortal remains rested in The Oratory these last 2 nights.


THE ORATORY AWAITING MARGARET'S ARRIVAL ON THURSDAY EVENING LAST


Of course I have done things like this all my priestly life.

As the Psalmist says:

"HOW PLEASANT IT IS WHEN BROTHERS (AND SISTERS) LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY. IT IS LIKE PRECIOUS OIL POURED UPON THE HEAD RUNNING DOWN UPON THE BEARD TO THE COLLAR OF THE ROBE"

Margaret, may the God who formed you in your mother's womb 108 years ago welcome you into Paradise where Lazarus is poor no longer and the just have eternal rest".

The highly acclaimed Belfast singer - Loreto McAuley will sing at Margaret's funeral service; One of the songs she will sing is: GO SILENT FRIEND:



36 comments:

  1. may the angels lead her into paradise and may she live there in peace forever

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  2. A lovely celebration for a wonderful lady. RIP Margaret. (By the way, should that be "Loreto" who will be singing? I think that is her name if it's the musician I am thinking of - -)

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  3. God rest her soul and comfort those who mourn her with the knowledge of her eternal reward.

    My mother died last month, so I have a particular affinity with those grieving for Margaret.

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    1. MC, Sorry to hear you lost your Mum (RIP) so recently.Its a big blow. Losing my mother was one of the biggest blows of my life.

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    2. Thank you, Bishop Pat, for your kind words. They mean a lot to me.

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  4. May the good lady rest in peace and those who mourn her passing know God's comfort and hope of the fullness of the kingdom.

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  5. Now it's nice to see this side Pat, to be servant in service is where it's at and should be. I will pray that the God we believe in recieves her with all the love that she was sent to him with. For surrounded in true love is of itself a heaven.

    Farewll Margaret

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    1. BH, I do this kind of thing everyday. However I think that Margaret's funeral is different and interesting in many ways.

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  6. God bless PEGGY

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  7. Amazing. Looks like she was still living in her own home too.

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  8. The Down and Conor wannabes are in Drumalis this weekend Pat maybe you should invite them down and show the how you do things in a Pastoral way. OPEN THEIR EYE'S AND EARS give their young hearts a different perspective.

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  9. Great article in the Belfast Telegraph today about her Funeral. A fresh faced Buckley pic too.

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  10. Why is there no Bishop present for Confirmation on Tuesday night in Carlingford and Omeath Parish. Instead we are getting a Fr Sweeney from Armagh, what is the Archbishop doing in Armagh as this date was arranged well in advance. It's like we are being treated as not important enough to have a Bishop confer the Sacrament. People here are far from happy. I know you have fulfilled your obligation to bury this lady today RIP, maybe you could consider coming down to us as our own Bishop can't be bothered. Could he not even draft in a Bishop from Newry or elsewhere. What is going on in the Archdiocese of Armagh for heavens sake. If they send us a Priest with a fancy title from Armagh why can't our own priest do it instead, at least we and our children know him. It's all a farce Bishop Pat.

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    1. That's sad and unnecessary. Why is Amy too busy?

      I would be quite happy to go to Carlingford /Omeath to confirm your children.

      Tell the other parents this.

      You'll suddenly find a Bishop is free!

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    2. I will discuss your kind offer with the other parents. I suppose he could also have sent Cardinal Brady in his place who is retired but we wouldn't want him confirming our children. Thank you Bishop Pat

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  11. Sorry I meant to say Bishop Pat the confirmation is Tuesday 7th March.

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  12. Pat if they hear you are going to do the Confirmation they will resurrect some bishop even from the dead to avoid egg on their crosiers. Anyway any priest can validly confirm. Confirmation is an extension of Baptism. My good wishes go to the people of the parish/es

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  13. I knew there was a shortage of Priests but I never heard there was a shortage of Bishops, on the contrary. By all accounts all is not well in Armagh, to think they will have than excuse of an Archbishop for at least 20 years, God help us all and God help the people of the Archdiocese.
    Ard Mhacha Mal

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    1. Amy probably has something important to do like investing a Knight of Malta.

      Modern bishops are not pastors. They are desk jockies.

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    2. Desk jockeys.,.Bishop FM .Hit me with ur crodure bish hit me hit me.....

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  14. This sickens me about Armagh, a Bishop not showing up to confirm children, what's the world coming to? Is there not another Bishop available to deputise. I get the impression laziness is the answer to the question here plus arrogance and indifference. Someone mentioned Cardinal Brady earlier, he turned up in Rostrevor for Confirmation recently, not his own diocese, but people were furious at him turning up. Maybe that's why they are reluctant at using him in Omeath/Carlingford. Correct me if I'm wrong, I know Priests can confirm but we do like to see a Bishop for this occasion, an important step for children and their families. Let's face it, it's the only chance we get to see our Archbishop but he continues to be absent as ever.
    Furious Ring of Gullion Parishioner

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    1. He's very busy covering up for Maynooth and Grinder priests.

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  15. I would be careful folks on this blog about speaking out against Eamon Martin of Armagh because you could get reported to the PSNI. Just a thought.

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  16. Fr Sweeney Confirmed my niece last year. It was a lovely celebration and lost nothing through the absence of a Bishop.

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  17. Why couldn't your own PP conduct it then.

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  18. It begs the question - What special powers does Fr Sweeney possess that other Priests don't?
    Are Mhacha Mal

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  19. Dear father pat what is your Number?

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  20. Thank you 21.41 it just confirms he didn't conduct the Confirmation of your niece either, charming. What does he do I wonder? A previous post referred to Eamon reporting people to the psni, it's surely not the actions of someone brought up in the bogside!!!!!!

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  21. There is a big scandal brewing in Armagh, I'm surprised it's not in the Sunday Papers today. I was waiting for the headline because a Northern journalist friend told me about it the other day. Another Cleric caught with his knickers around his ankles with another younger male. I'm not surprised Martin is not showing his face after his close relationship with Coyle, where has Eamon been in the past few months, no show in the media.

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  22. All details sent to you Pat on your email. It's diabolical and what an outrage. Del Monte

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  23. We are all curious. What is the latest Armagh scandal?

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