Forever And Ever
Sheila Foley, my Mother, my solid rock foundation finally passed away at 13.03 Sunday 29th March. We are absolutely devastated and thank our many friends for their kind wishes. Mam has had 27 chemo sessions, a hip operation and several other length hospital stays also countless days and nights sick and in severe pain at home since she was first diagnosed with cancer almost 2 years and 9 months ago.
Such was her strength if she was a boxer Katie Taylor would have been in trouble, had she been an ultra runner I would have been in serious trouble so much was her fighting spirit, her endurance, perseverance and typically she never once complained about her cruel bad luck.
Mam lived to be less than 4 weeks short of her 80th birthday which will soon be another sad day for us. She also ate healthily, never drank alcohol and gave up smoking cigarettes 30 years ago. In her last few days I was amazed at her strong heart for she fought off about eight long countdowns which tried to take her last breath away, each time recovering before nature ultimately took its cruel course, this was also so difficult for us as we all had to go through the emotional goodbye process. In the end it was best for her as we wanted her to maintain her lofty dignity and quality of life. We literally ate, slept and mostly showered in the hospital for a week, without much sleep. A week ago Mam was given 48 hours and just like her cancer prognosis she outlived this too. I am sure she would have lived to be a 100 years young otherwise, such an outgoing and outdoors person that she was.
Myself my sister Ann Salmon and brother Brian Mangan and her six grandchildren Gary, Serena, Mark, Laura, Sarah and Brian jnr all agree that because of her tough morals, wisdom, bravery and vision in a conservative Ireland during the 1960′s and ’70′s that we all had a very tough upbringing, she set us up hardened for successful lives. Mam and us can all boast that a police officer has never knocked on her door nor at a door of any of her six grandchildren’s houses despite a very tough life all three of us children have had. Us three children know we could easily have taken a wrong turn and gone horribly astray.Mam met John Foley the true love of her life in 1988. She was about 53, And John was much older.They shared about 16 years of married bliss with never an angry word exchanged. John was the ultimate gentleman and totally devoted to Mam before he died in 2008. She dearly missed him. Mam is now on her way to meet him. Their favourite song has always been Forever and Ever
Our family would like to thank the staff of St James Hospital especially Professor Kennedy, Ethel , doctors ,nurses and even the cleaners and canteen staff loved her so much that they kept checking on her well being providing endless tea, coffee and sandwiches, Mam even had us empty our bin and clean her room to save the cleaners the trouble!
I would also like to thank my sister Ann Salmon who couldn’t have done anymore to care for Mam such was her devotion, Mam has always been Anns and our greatest friend! Mam was also my greatest supporter and I am told was so proud of all my running achievements having also read every single word of my world run blog theworldjog.com
I will miss her, my true inspiration and perseverance for she wouldn’t let me shorten my world run after her cruel cancer diagnosis. I have enjoyed our last five months together living with Mam, preparing her porridge in the morning and helping relieve the strain on Ann even slightly.
We all have different ways to survive, mine will be to run the UVU North Pole marathon My kind sponsor Richard Donovan kindly gave me an entry with a week long trip there as my reward for running around the world! We depart on Easter Sunday! thank you Richard!
Rest in peace Mam we will never stop loving you, Always loved you, and we always wil.funeral details:
The death has occurred of Sheila FOLEY (FORMERLY MANGAN) (née Kelly)
Dublin
Foley (nee Kelly) (formerly Mangan) Sheila (late of Oscar Square, S.C.R. Dublin 8. March 29th, 2015 peacefully surrounded by her loving family at St. James’ Hospital. Beloved wife of the late John and loving mother of Tony, Brian and Ann. Sadly missed by her loving family, her sisters, son-in-law John, daughter-in-law Norah, her grandchildren Gary, Serena, Mark, Laura, Sarah and Brian, her special friend Betty, relatives, neighbours and friends. May she rest in peace
Reposing at the Massey Bros Funeral Home, The Coombe. Removal tomorrow,Tuesday evening, to St. Teresa’s Church, Donore Avenue arriving at 5.30pm. Funeral on Wednesday after 10am Mass to Mount Jerome Cemetery. All enquires to Massey Bros 01 4533333.
April 1st, 2015 at 1:12 am
Tony—-well it is a long long way from the dusty roads of Myanmar and all the other outposts that you passed through—-all the while being cheered on by one tough lady—-Mam will be missed for sure–but will also live on in you and Ann and Brian–and the grandchildren——Remember all the goodness, and there was a lot—and celebrate her life –her nearly 80 full years on earth—-great lady, great mom, great friend—-
our sympathy to you all—Greg Liz and Max Havely
April 7th, 2015 at 12:44 am
Thanks Greg! We all appreciate this, Not much more can be said, Except the North Pole Marathon will be run in Mams Honour