The McGowan Family Tree

 

Descendants of Thady McGowan

1 Thady McGowan
.. +Maria Higgins
........ 2 Timothy McGowan b: 1868 d: 1960
............ +Bridget O'Hara b: 1875 d: 1960
................... 3 Mary (Mai) McGowan b: January 06, 1910 in Ballinisland, Foxford, Co. Mayo, Ireland d: December 31, 1998 in Ballinisland, Foxford, Co. Mayo, Ireland
....................... +Louis J. Walsh b: May 01, 1908 in Cloonaughill, Curry, Co. Sligo, Ireland d: July 14, 1991 in Ballinisland, Foxford, Co. Mayo, Ireland m: August 12, 1942 in Foxford, Co. Mayo, Ireland
............................. 4 Aidan Patrick Walsh b: January 28, 1944 in Castlebar Ireland d: April 07, 1953 in Foxford, Co. Mayo, Ireland
............................. 4 John Desmond Walsh b: January 05, 1946 in Castlebar Ireland
................................. +Lelawatie (Lolita) Naraine b: June 03, 1940 in Georgetown, Guyana, South America
........................................ 5 Nollaig Chandravedan Walsh b: January 11, 1976 in Ottawa, Canada
........................................ 5 Chavi Aodhan Walsh b: January 31, 1977 in Ottawa, Canada
............................................ +Melissa Ibberson
.................................................. 6 Kaelin Deasmhuin Walsh b: August 03, 1994 in Ottawa, Canada
........................................ 5 Darragh Devenanda Walsh b: July 25, 1979 in Ottawa, Canada
........................................ 5 Komal Deasmhuin Walsh b: October 29, 1981 in Ottawa, Canada
........................................ 5 Cian Nehal Walsh b: September 29, 1984 in Ottawa, Canada
............................. 4 Michael Joseph Walsh b: April 28, 1948 in Castlebar Ireland
................................. +Marie Holmes
........................................ 5 Connor Walsh b: June 06, 1979
........................................ 5 Dermot Walsh b: February 01, 1981
........................................ 5 Michael Walsh b: December 08, 1984
........................................ 5 Fiona Walsh b: January 21, 1989
........................................ 5 Pearse Walsh b: January 21, 1989
........................................ 5 Marie Anne Walsh b: April 17, 1992
............................. 4 Louis Pearse Walsh b: April 18, 1949 in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland
................................. +Audrey Troelstra b: May 29, 1951 in Hoensbroek, Limburg, Holland
........................................ 5
Timothy Walsh b: January 03, 1978 in Kincardine Ontario
........................................ 5
Adrian Walsh b: June 19, 1980 in London, Ontario
........................................ 5
Ashlyn Walshb: September 12, 1984 in Kincardine Ontario
........................................ 5 Meaghan Walsh b: May 02, 1986 in London, Ontario
................... 3 Sadie McGowan b: 1912
....................... +Frank Moran
................... 3 Bridie McGowan b: 1913
....................... +Eddie McGetterick
................... 3 Josephine McGowan b: 1914
....................... +James Burke
........ 2 Bernard McGowan
........ 2 John McGowan
........ 2 Patrick McGowan
........ 2 James McGowan
........ 2 Peter McGowan
........ 2 Willie McGowan
........ 2 Julia McGowan b: 1871
............ +William Devaney
................... 3 William Devaney
................... 3 Frank Devaney
........ 2 Mary McGowan
............ +Phelim O'Neil
................... 3 Willie O'Neil
................... 3 Frank O'Neil
................... 3 Sonny O'Neil
................... 3 Julia O'Neil
................... 3 Lily O'Neil

 

Mary (Mai) McGowan b: January 06, 1910 in Ballinisland, Foxford, Co. Mayo, Ireland d: December 31, 1998 in Ballinisland, Foxford, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Agnes (Sr. Venantius) Walsh b: January 06, 1910 in Cloonaughill, Curry, Co. Sligo, Ireland

Bertha Loftus Walsh b: October 14, 1896 d: October 07, 1997 m: April 06, 1921 in Cook County, Chicago, IL

Catherine Irene Madden Walsh b: March 14, 1916 d: January 31, 1995 m: June 29, 1940 in St. Brendans' Church, Chicago IL

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Reflections For Mai

Mary (Mai) McGowan b: January 06, 1910 in Ballinisland, Foxford, Co. Mayo, Ireland d: December 31, 1998 in Ballinisland, Foxford, Co. Mayo, Ireland

By Pearse,  January 3, 1999

The Words Of The Poet Say:
                  "Lives of great ones all remind us
                    We can make our lives sublime
                    And departing, leave behind us
                    Footprints on the sands of time"

and what wonderful footprints our Mum and Gran has left on the sands of her time.

She would not want any of you here today to be sad at her passing ­ she would want her funeral to be a celebration of her life.  So don’t be sad ­ this is an occasion to celebrate and give thanks to God for a great life and a great person.

I would like to share some thoughts on Mammy and Gran’s life in her roles as mother, teacher and friend.

She was a wonderful mother and grandmother ­ kind, patient, nurturing and understanding.  Both she and our Dad imparted a set of values to us boys, that have been a cornerstone of our lives and that we are now handing down to our families.  She was not judgmental, had no favourites - she spoke equally proudly of her three sons, her three daughters in law, Lolita, Marie and Audrey and her grandchildren and their diverse achievements ­ she loved them all equally and they loved her.  And Marie, thank you for the love, care and attention you gave her over the years ­ you were the daughter she never had.

For the past forty-six years she carried the heaviest cross of all any mother can be asked to carry ­ the death of her oldest son, Aidan, at age 9 years in 1953.  I am sure there was not a day in that 46 years that she did not remember that cross was there ­ her faith in God was very strong.

As a teacher she excelled ­ Des, Michael and I have been overwhelmed at the number of people ­ many of whom we do not know - whom she taught and who, without exception, have described her as a gifted teacher.  To her, teaching was not just about learning and following a curriculum ­ it was about understanding, exploring, challenging, inquiring and having fun.  She had an extraordinary ability to see talent and goodness in all her students and she understood that education and learning were much more than academic teaching and results.

As a friend her reputation was legendary ­ she was a good friend to many and she also had great friends.  She made friends everywhere she went and she did not believe in the term "Generation Gap" ­ she was equally at home with all generations and not only could she relate to them but they could relate to her.  She loved to meet people.

She was someone who always saw the glass of life half full,  not half empty.  Its hard to believe that she was sixty years old when she made her first trip to North America.  We have lost track of the number of visits she made but I am sure it was in excess of twenty since that time.

She used to proudly say that she saw every one of her fifteen grandchildren at all stages of growth.  She loved those trips ­ the excitement of travel, the shopping malls, the newness and difference of another country, the new people she met.

Mammy and Gran ­ we have had a lot of goodbyes over the years ­ up to now a goodbye was always the first step to thinking about the next visit, the next trip.  Yes we are a little sad today that we have to say goodbye for the last time.  We thank God for making you a part of our lives for so long.  We know you are in heaven, happily reunited with Daddy and Aidan.

Your wonderful footprints on the sands of our lives will be with us forever ­ we will love you always ­ Goodbye.