‘The personification of sunshine' – Ireland's oldest person Sarah Coyle is laid to rest

Irish Independent

3 days ago

Mrs Coyle, who at 108 was Ireland's oldest person, lived through two pandemics, the Irish Civil War and the War of Independence. She was a native of Knockatomcoyle, Co Wicklow, but lived with her daughter Marian Galligan in Castleknock in Dublin.
She died peacefully on Monday surrounded by her family.
Her granddaughter Anne Marie told mourners at St Brigid's Church in Blanchardstown in Dublin today that her Nana was the 'personification of sunshine'.
'You felt her warmth. She radiated a positive energy and you would be left with a glow from simply basking in her presence. Like the song goes she made you happy when skies were grey,' she said.
'It is true Nana had much suffering or heartache in her life. She didn't dwell on it. She refused to let it define her. She actively chose happiness and love. Repeatedly.'
Anne Marie said that her grandmother had lost her sight by the age of 40.
'Despite living in total darkness for much of her long life she brought light to so many. She was a masterclass in resilience,' she said.
'She proved your energy creates a ripple. When you choose healing over hate, peace over pride and love over fear you become the light that someone end was praying for.
'Today Nana we marvel at your courage, we celebrate your strength and we are forever grateful for your sunshine. The world is so much brighter from you having been in it.
'Your love and sunbeams will continue to shine through all of us whom you have loved so fiercely. You can rest in peace now Nana knowing that you were the very best in nana's and the very best in women.'
Anne Marie added that her grandmother was a person of many skills.
Sarah, who was widowed in 1968, was a 'talented seamstress and avid gardener' who could singlehandedly flip a double mattress and change sheets until her 90s when her family 'begged her to stop'.
Her son-in-law Anthony said that Sarah often marvelled at her longevity.
'She used to say 'I can't believe I'm a hundred years old and I'm still here. I wonder if God has forgotten about me?' And we would say 'Far from it. He hasn't forgotten about you. But you still have important work on earth and he is leaving you here.'
'She would break in to a lovely smile and say 'I suppose he will call me when he needs me.'
Anthony said that his mother-in-law had a great sense of fun and would want her funeral to be a happy event.
He remembered her 'lovely smile and 'kind words' and indicated that she was a role model to her loved ones.
'By the age of 40 she was almost totally blind. You would think that was as a parent of a young family a tremendous challenge. I can only imagine what it must have been like,' Anthony said.
'She quickly gathered herself. She said there was two choices - 'I could either go under or spend the rest of my life feeling sorry for myself.' She was an inspiration.'
Fr John Gilligan, who celebrated the mass, said that it was being watched online by Sarah's 103-year-old sister Lily, who is based in Birmingham in the UK and by her son Patrick who lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Fr Gilligan said that the congregation were in the church to celebrate a 'life well lived'.
'Almost 109 years of life. What changes she would have seen from the Ireland of 1916 to the Ireland of today,' he said.
'When you look at her life she was one who lived it to the full. Her advice to people was 'Don't bear grudges. Be kind to people.'
'We think of all the things she went through in life. The history. 1916. Raised in the that time. She even talks about the Black and Tans. All the stories we hear of in history she experienced so much of in her life.
'She loved to have the minister of the eucharist come to her in the parish. I have always been impressed by the care Marian and Anthony gave to her.
'This day three weeks ago I went up to visit her after the ten o'clock mass here. We brought her communion and we anointed her. And I said 'I hear you have a big birthday coming up.' And she had a lovely big smile. I said 'when were you born?.' She said 'the 24th of July 1916.'
'She was full of joy living life to the full. It was wonderful to see the type of person she was.
'She was always a lady with a great sense of fun. She loved people and she loved chatting with them.
'She kept herself informed with current affairs. Radio Éireann and Liveline. She was always one step ahead with the quick retort.'
Offertory gifts at the 10am mass included holy water, signifying Sarah's deep faith, a 'talking book', seeds to represent her love of gardening and a picture of Sarah with her family on the occasion of her 100th birthday.
As a young woman Sarah worked in Foxrock in Dublin where she was employed as a housekeeper. She met her husband Tom Coyle at a dance. He was a native of Cavan who worked as a postman until ill health set in in his late fifties.
The couple lived in Drumcondra, and had four children, two of whom died as newborns.
Mrs Coyle became the oldest person in Ireland following the death on March 20th last in Letterkenny in Co Donegal of 109-year-old Ruby Druce.
Sarah Coyle is survived by her two adult children, her son in law, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family and friends.
She was pre-deceased by eight of her nine siblings. After her funeral mass today she was laid to rest in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.