Mayo county town mourns passing of popular personality

The death has occurred peacefully at Mayo University Hospital of Josephine (Josie) Ruane, Keelcoil, Breaffy, and formerly of 78 McHale Road, Castlebar.

She will be sadly missed by her loving family: Jonathan (Limerick), Louise Lavelle (Breaffy), Iain (Galway) and Keith (Breaffy), her cherished grandchildren Tommy, Evie and Billy, brothers Frandie and Jimmy, sisters Ann Gannon, Martha Gregory and Cait Gillard, daughter-in-law Marie, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives, neighbours and friends, to whom sympathy is extended.

She was predeceased by her parents Frank and May (née Nash) and her brothers Mickie, Johnny and Pake, her sisters Mary Essie and Sally Costello and her grandchild Amy Claire.

Josie started work as a young girl with Castlebar Bacon Company.

She also worked in her neighbour Kevin O’Malley’s shop on McHale Road.

She went on to work in the Hat Factory and later with Lavin’s Fruit & Veg.

But her main interest was always her children and she worked hard to provide a good home for them.

In more recent years she became involved with the Dragon Boat and the Rock Rose House Choir which she thoroughly enjoyed and where she made many good friends.

She had a great fondness for animals and dogs in particular. Josie loved to travel and she enjoyed meeting up with her friends old and new.

But her greatest joy were her precious grandchildren whom she loved dearly.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Josie will repose in Kilcoyne’s Funeral Home, Thomas Street, Castlebar, on Thursday from 6 to 7.30 p.m.

The funeral will arrive at the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar on Friday for Funeral Mass at 12.30 p.m. followed by cremation in Shannon Crematorium at 4.30 p.m.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.