‘Ma was made of strong stuff', says tearful Ray D'Arcy in emotional funeral tribute to mum ‘fast-tracked to heaven'

The Irish Sun

4 days ago

RTE star Ray D'Arcy choked back tears as he paid tribute to his late mother at her funeral, telling mourners: 'Our ma was made of strong stuff.'
Family matriarch
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Ray D'Arcy choked back tears as he paid tribute to his mum during her funeral mass
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Mary D'Arcy passed away peacefully in Naas hospital last Friday
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Ray was comforted by his wife Jenny
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Speaking at her requiem funeral in St Brigid's Parish Church, in Kildare Town,
In a deeply emotional eulogy, the
'Nothing life-threatening we thought, and then about six weeks ago we got the diagnosis of an aggressive form of cancer.
'The doctor said (she had) 'weeks' last Wednesday, then they said it was going to be 'short days'. She didn't suffer much.'
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The broadcaster revealed how the staff at Naas hospital spoke of her quiet bravery in her final days.
Ray said: 'The nurses had the measure of my mother. One nurse, also called Mary, told me your mum strikes me as someone who wouldn't complain. Another palliative nurse called Linda said there was an official name for patients, she said: 'Your mother is an under-reporter.'
'They were right. My mother was an Olympic gold standard when it came to 'it's only me-isms'. That was our Ma.'
He added how the family joked over the last few days that their mum 'had been fast-tracked to heaven and was being given the full VIP treatment with a complimentary box of chocolates'.
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The well-known TV and radio star then spoke about his mum's life, recalling how she had married his dad, Ray senior, 'the local James Dean look-a-like' , who he described as "trouble with a capital T" at aged 23, and had nine children in sixteen years.
Ray recalled: 'They had a lot of children but not a lot of money. It could have broken mammy and nearly did at times.'
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Holding back tears, her son told the church: 'But our ma was made of strong stuff. Her ability to manage a household on a meagre income would put many a Minister of Finance to shame.
'We never wanted for anything, I don't know how she did it. I'm in awe of how she got through it. Imagine, nine of us in that little council cottage.'
However Ray also managed to bring laughter to the service when he recounted his late father's attempts to get their kids to lend a hand.
UPSET MAMMY
He recalled: 'I remember when Ma was pregnant with our sister Joan. Dad came in from the pub one night, and found mammy in tears over the kitchen sink, complaining that none of us were pulling our weight.
'Dad returned to the sitting room where we were watching The Old Grey Whistle Test, and he proceeded to read us the riot act.
'He said, 'Your mother needs your help, and it's not my fault your mother is pregnant.''
Ray said that once her child-rearing days were over, his 'Mammy emerged from under a mountain of Terry cloth nappies and damp denims to become a person in her own right who didn't exist exclusively to make us meals, darn our socks and patch our jeans'.
'CALMING PRESENCE'
He told of his late mother's role as secretary of the local St Joseph's Academy where she 'ran the place' for over 20 years, 'not just as an administrator but looking after the welfare of all the students and teachers".
He added: 'Our mother was a calming presence, everywhere she went. She led the choir here in this church for years.'
'We never wanted for anything, I don't know how she did it. I'm in awe of how she got through it. Imagine, nine of us in that little council cottage.'
Ray D'Arcy
Each of Mary's nine children had done "reasonably well" and were based in New York, Scotland, the Middle East, and in Ireland.
Ray recalled how his sister Anne had taken his mother's hand in hospital last Friday, just before she passed to tell her how much all her children loved her.
Ray added: 'If my mother had been able to talk back to us last Friday mam would have said, 'I love you all equally and unconditionally. Mary D'Arcy was a truly amazing person and we were lucky to have her.''
Mary was buried afterwards in St Conleth's cemetery, Kildare Town.
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Ray told how his family were shocked at Mary's sudden passing
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