Mullinahone.net

Local people were shocked last week at the death of Kitty Purcell of Kickham Street. Kitty was a somewhat reclusive lady and was not in the best of health for many years. She was in her early 60s.

She lived almost all her live in Kickham Street or Chapel Street, as it would be known by some of the older people. Kitty was born at the top of the street to Jack Hickey and Peggy Brett who kept a shop where her brother Eddie now lives.

Officially she was Catherine Ann which soon became Kitty the name she retained to the end of her life. In her younger days Kitty worked as a barmaid in Murphy’s of Grangemockler. She later married Paddy Purcell, eventually moving back to her home street.

She was keenly interested in reading and politics.

Kitty’s remains reposed overnight in St Michael’s Church, Mullinahone, where her funeral Mass the following day was celebrated by parish priest Fr John McGrath. The Mass was served by Kelly Hickey, Kitty’s niece. Two members of the Hickey family took the readings: Paddy Hickey (cousin) and her nephew’s wife Marie Hickey. The prayers of the faithful were recited by Marie Hickey, Michael Hickey, John Hickey and Mary Hickey.

The offertory gifts were presented by Kitty’s son and daughter Patrick Purcell and Margaret Purcell and by her loyal friend Phyllis Direen who had called on her every day for the last 24 years. After her funeral Mass Kitty’s remains were interred in the adjoining cemetery. To her son and daughter Patrick and Margaret we extend our sympathies, also to her brothers Tommy and Eddie Hickey and to her extended family. May the soul of Catherine Ann (Kitty) Purcell rest in peace in her native Mullinahone which se loved so well.