O'NEILL, Ursula

O'NEILL (née Loughnane) Dr. Ursula, died August 20, 2010 - On this, the First Anniversary of her death, Ursula's family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the many to whom it is due. Ursula was first diagnosed with cancer in l995 and over the following years came under the care of Dr. David Fennelly and Staff at St. Vincent's Hospital and Professor Ken O'Byrne and Staff at both St. James's and St. Luke's Hospital. We greatly appreciate the care given during that time. It was to St. Luke's that Ursula asked to return for treatment when informed in July of 2010 that her illness was terminal. Given the extraordinary care she received we are loathe to single out individuals but feel it would be remiss not to extend a special word of thanks to Dr. Jim Meaney and Dr. Jennifer Gilmore for their efforts on her behalf. In typically undemanding fashion, Ursula's one and only request was to be allowed return home to spend her final weeks there. That would not have been possible but for the amazing care she received from her good friends and colleagues Dr. Anne Brophy, Dr. Loyola Lowry, Dr. Tony Lowry and Dr. Gordon Ballantyne, who managed, with the support of the wonderful palliative care team and Pharmacist Paul Cunningham, to meet her needs with both professionalism and the sense of humour upon which she insisted. Also enlisted was Ursula's good friend Fr. Shay Casey who, ably assisted by Fr. Liam Murray, devoted considerable time and energy tending to her spiritual needs. The wake we prefer to call our garden party and Ursula's funeral Mass and subsequent burial in her beloved Fanore, would not have been the celebration they were intended to be but for the assistance of friends and neighbours, flowers by Syra Reid, catering by Mary McCullagh and Annie McNamara, music by Margaret Kilduff, the Henshaw family and Martin Hayes and Fr. Des Forde who presided over the burial. To the countless numbers who called to the house, attended the funeral, sent Mass Cards and made contact or contributed in some fashion, we extend our thanks. Ursula died as she had lived - displaying truly extraordinary courage and good humour to the last. She spent her final days surrounded by friends, colleagues and a family who loved and will always miss her - for that and to all who facilitated it, we will be forever grateful.