O'COLMÁIN - Dónal was called home to God on June 14, 2023. His wife, Helen and daughter Aideen were privileged to be with him when he passed.
Dónal spent the last few weeks of his life in Leeson Park Nursing Home, Dublin where he was at all times treated with loving care, respect and expert medical care. Helen, Aideen, Darina, Cliodna, Eimear, his sister Maree (O'Leary) and their families are deeply grateful to Fiona and all the staff who looked after Dónal and who extended their care and compassion to us.
We are also deeply grateful to our own doctor – Dr Gillian McLaughlin of Mount Merrion Medical Clinic who cared for Dónal for many years with unlimited attention and expert medical care.
Our gratitude, also, must be expressed to the staff of Carnegie/Fanagan Funeral Undertakers, Monkstown for their sensitivity and professionalism which softened a very difficult time for us.
Dónal’s Funeral Mass in The Church of the Assumption, Booterstown has left a lasting impression on all of us. Monsignor Ciarán O'Carroll spoke of Dónal’s sterling personal qualities, his wide ranging, interests and accomplishments and of his participation in so many cultural and musical activities. He really made the celebration of the Mass a thanksgiving for Dónal’s life. We express deep gratitude to Monsignor Ciarán and his concelebrants – Fr Pat O’Donoghue, former Director of Our Lady’s Choral Society, Fr Anastasius, Booterstown, Fr Martin Delany, Co Laois, Fr Sylvanus, Co Laois and to Paul Ling our Sacristan assisted by Dominic.
Many thanks to all the religious communities in the parish who prayed for Dónal during his illness and sent messages of condolences on his death.
Apart from his faith and his family, Dónal had three great passions in life: travel, gardening and above all music. He loved to say he was a member of five choirs simultaneously! He sang and travelled extensively with Our Lady’s Choral Society for over sixty years. Latterly he was also a member and devoted president of Il Coro Italiano di Dublino. We were so grateful that his former musical colleagues in both choirs, joined by some members of the Culwick Choral Society and of course our Parish Choir came and made the Funeral Mass so moving and so memorable. We send you all our heartfelt gratitude. I wish I could thank you all personally, I can however acknowledge with very deep gratitude the help and expertise of our organist and friend Kevin Sheldrick and our Booterstown Choir director Aisling Begley.
Thank you to Adrienne, Jane and Eimear in the parish centre who facilitated us so willingly and to those who provided refreshments for the choir.
Lack of contact details makes it impossible for us to thank personally the huge number of extended family, nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbours and friends and former neighbours from home and abroad who came to attend Dónal’s Mass in Booterstown. We were greatly touched by the number of former colleagues from the spheres of Engineering and Education who came to join us in prayer for the repose of Dónal’s soul. Your presence in such numbers was a great comfort to us. We warmly thank all those who sent lovely letters, posted on RIP.ie, who sent sympathy cards and who had Mass offered for Dónal’s soul. Thank you to Isabelle for the photographic memories.
We brought Dónal to Shanganagh Cemetery where the committal ceremony was performed with great gentleness and sensitivity by Sheila O’Malley of the parish funeral team. Thank you, Sheila.
Donal’s Anniversary Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, June 23 at 11am In The Church of the Assumption, Booterstown.
We are deeply indebted to Conor – our son-in-law. He has always been supportive but, during Dónal’s illness he was particularly attentive, thoughtful and stimulating and after Dónal’s death he was always there when needed.
Finally, to our cherished grandchildren Roisin, Ciara, Colm, Cormac, Brian, Niamh, Liam Eamon and Caoimhe who escorted Dónal into and out of the church who led the prayers of the faithful, who presented mementoes and the offertory gifts. Thank you. Papa would have been so proud.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been offered for the intentions of all.