Frances, Katherine, Gavan, Davitt, Jayne – Frank’s children, daughters in law Ursula and Sinead, sons in law Gordon Morrison and Stuart Murphy, and our families as well as daddy’s sisters Sheila Browne and Mary Bourne wish to offer our sincere appreciation to everyone who supported and sympathised with us during daddy’s short illness and following his peaceful passing.

Our extended family, neighbours, friends and indeed the entire Carrickmore community who surrounded us with warmth and comfort which saw us through the days following Daddy’s death and ever since, from which we draw strength and reassurance. We will always hold dear the many people who helped throughout the wake with refreshments, parking arrangements and the local businesses who brought food including Seamus Russell who assisted with many practical arrangements. Our appreciation is also extended to everyone who attended the wake and funeral, sent messages of sympathy, floral tributes, and posted social media tributes including our family members abroad, work colleagues, Daddy’s former political comrades, Tyrone National Graves Association, Fermanagh and Omagh Council, Termonmaguirc Historical Society, and the GAA community at home and in Canada.

Our thoughts also go to the nursing and medical staff who supported Daddy and our family throughout his brief time in South West Hospital Enniskillen. We are grateful for the compassionate care he received in Ward 8 and also by the staff of Carrickmore Health Centre including Mammy’s former colleagues. It is impossible for us to quantify the loyalty, camaraderie, and practical support we received from St Colmcille’s GFC. The officers, the President, committee, members, and players worked tirelessly to help us throughout the wake and funeral and assisted with carrying Daddy to his final place of rest. We were honoured that Daddy’s coffin was draped in a Carrickmore Jersey. This support will never be forgotten by our family.

We were humbled by the number of people who walked with us in the cortege, carried the coffin, and lined the route. We want to thank the Principals, Staff, Governors, and pupils of Dean Maguirc College and St Colmcille’s Primary School and St Colmcille’s GFC for the guard of honour at the chapel. Daddy was a man of great faith, and we want to express our sincere appreciation to Fr John Browne for the beautiful funeral celebration and his guiding hand during the preparations for Daddy’s funeral as well as his attendance in our home. We also acknowledge the kindness shown by Fr Seán O Neill PP who visited Daddy in hospital and for his pastoral care, Fr David Moore and Fr Peter Kerr who attended our home during the wake. We are sincerely grateful to our cousins Edel, Laurence, Aidan, and Marian whose singing and music added so much reflection and poignancy to the liturgy, alongside our family members who read, said prayers, and brought the offertory gifts to the altar as well as Rosalind and Sara who made many of the funeral arrangements and prepared the Mass booklet. We also thank Colette Slane the sacristan and the eucharistic ministers. We also acknowledge Daddy’s friend Seamus Woods for the reflection he read on Daddy’s life as well as his contribution to public and community service. We will however always be indebted to our friends Jimmy Fox and Ryan McCallan – FMC Funeral Directors, your care and compassion for Daddy will always be remembered, as you guided our family once more through the very worst of times with dignity, empathy, and professionalism. Thanks is extended to our neighbour Seán Kerr and his son Seán for preparing Daddy’s final resting place. We will always fondly remember our family members, neighbours and friends for their unfailing companionship to Daddy after Mammy’s passing.

As it is impossible to thank everyone individually in these circumstances, please accept this acknowledgement as a token of our family’s heartfelt appreciation to everyone who comforted us and provided support in any way.
A Month’s Mind mass will be celebrated in St Colmcille’s Church Carrickmore on Thursday 16th June 2022 at 7.30pm and via the church webcam.

“A life well lived is a precious gift of hope and strength and grace, from someone who has made our world a brighter better place.”