Anne Feeney RIP.

It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of our much loved colleague Anne. For a short few years Anne was a very valued member of our staff at St Patrick's. She was known to all for her easy manner and willing smile. She loved to chat and have a laugh but she was an excellent teacher, very professional in all her work. Anne's opinions were sought and respected by all her colleagues in our school especially at St. Patrick's Day Parade time when she gave invaluable help in the design and construction of dragons, snakes and hot air balloons for our pageant.

Before her career at St Patricks, Anne managed a Montessori school in Galway. Her great work ethic and dedication shone through, as she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree while working, through St Nicholas' Montessori College in Dublin. She had a wonderful love for travel and seeing the world. She lived in New York for 6 months and among the places she visited included Egypt, Australia, New Zealand and Poland. Anne had a fantastic outgoing personality and zest for life. She loved to socialise, meet people and always lived life to the full. Among some of her numerous achievements include walking the Great Wall of China for charity and also visiting Peru and completing the Machu Picchu trail.

On hearing of her illness, she decided she was not going to stay quiet and withdraw. Quite the opposite in fact, she accepted it and willingly explained the diagnosis to anyone who asked. She tried to map out a very positive approach from that point on. It was this very positive attitude that so impressed all of us. She taught us that we need to get on with life and always stay positive in the face of adversity. We held her in the utmost admiration as she continued to smile and joke through her illness and to attend as many of our school social outings as she was able to. She happily accepted our friendship and never sought sympathy.

She continually pointed to Rock Rose House as her "rock" - and she was so grateful to them for all the treatments, reflexology, reiki etc that she received there. Regularly when we met her this year she was rushing for an appointment for one or other of the treatments on offer. Anne took part in three mini-marathons for Rock Rose house to raise funds, the last one being only in May of this year. Even after her death she is continuing the raise money, the toal being 2500 Euro and rising.

Anne will be sorely missed by all the staff at St. Patrick's for her courage, her positive attitude, her shining example to us all on how to lightly carry such a heavy burden and, of course, her wonderful smile. The large attendance from the staffs of both our own and Breaffy school for the guard of honour after her requiem mass indicates the high esteem in which she was held by all. She is no longer in pain. May she rest in peace.

The staff of St Patrick's would like to extend their deepest sympathies to Seán, her husband, and to all in the Feeney and Donahue families on their very sad loss.