Recent Deaths 260108

MR KEITH J LOUTH, NAVAN
IT IS with great sadness that we record the death of Mr Keith Louth, Abbeygrove, Navan, which occurred in London  on 25th December last.
Aged 31, Mr Louth grew up in Slane and Navan, and had since travelled extensively and visited many of the world's great sites, and lived in Australia, America - North and South; and England. With a keen eye for photography, he has left a collection of photographs that tell the tales of his worldwide travels.
In his earlier years, he was a keen soccer player, and played for Parkvilla, Stackallen  Rovers, and other clubs. He is remembered for his celebratory somersaults whenever he scored a 'stylie' goal.
Mr Louth will be remembered as a very 'bubbly', often cheeky character, who was very caring and full of love. He loved music and the buzz of always meeting new people, and often had unique sayings and expressions for any given situation.
He will always be loved and very sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Deceased is survived by his parents, Louise and Ollie; brother s and sisters, Alan, Marie -Therease, Elenor, Brian, Anthony and Dermot;  nephews and nieces, Dylan, Daniel and Rebecca Louise;  extended family, relatives and friends.
The removal took place from Abbeygrove to St Mary's Church, Navan, where Requiem Mass was celebrated by Very Rev Fr Gerry McCormack, Adm, Navan; Rev Fr Dan O'Gorman, Dalgan Park; and Rev Fr Martin Carley, St Mary's, Drogheda.
Burial took place to St Erc's Cemetery, Slane, where Fr McCormack and Very Rev Fr Joe Deegan, PP, Slane, officiated.
Guards of honour at the obsequies were provided by Abbeygrove neighbours and residents at the removal, and by Navan O'Mahony's GAA club for the funeral.
A months memory mass will take place on Sunday next, 27th January at 1pm, in St Mary's Church, Navan.

MR T MCDONNELL, KENTSTOWN
MR Tommy McDonnell, Sicily, Duleek, who died on 19th December  last at the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin, was a native of Gibbstown.
Aged 60, deceased was a meat wholesaler, and played a key role in the success of the Seneschalstown team in winning the 2007 Meath senior football championship as a selector, when they bridged a 13 year gap, bringing home the Keegan Cup.
He is survived by his wife, Veronica;  sons, daughters, mother, aunt, uncle, brothers, sisters and extended family.
The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Kentstown, to the adjoining cemetery, on 21st December last. A months memory Mass took place in Kentstown on Saturday night, 19th January.

MR H PERCY, NAVAN AND DUBLIN
THERE was much sadness in Navan early in the new year with the news of the passing at Our Lady's Hospital of Mr Harry Percy (58) of Abbeygrove. The retired Revenue Commission civil servant was a native of Dublin.
He is survived by his wife Maureen; son David and daughter Aisling (all of Abbeygrove); sisters Ann, Kathleen, Mary and Patsy; brothers- and sisters-in-law; nieces, nephews, family and friends.
His remains were removed to St Oliver's Church, Blackcastle where Funeral Mass was celebrated prior to interment in St Mary's Cemetery, Inniskeen, Co Monaghan. His Month's Mind Mass will be celebrated in St Mary's Church, Navan on Sunday, 10th February at 10.30am.

MR S POWER, KILBERRY

THE death occurred on 5th January last of Mr Sean Power, Castletown, Kilberry, Navan, at his home. He was aged 59 years. A son of the late John and Margaret Power, deceased was a native of Stradbally, Co Waterford, where he was born in 1948.
His family left for Luton, England, while he was still a teenager , and he worked in construction in England where he was actively involved in St Vincent's GAA Club and the Hertfordshire County Board.
In 1990, Mr Power returned to live in Ireland, and became involved with the underage set-up in Wolfe Tones GAA Club. He became chairman  of the senior club shortly afterwards and held that position when the club had its very successful run of three championships in four years, culminating in the senior championship win of 2006.
Mr Power was working with Precision Construction Ltd as foreman for ten years, on some of the largest projects taken on by an Irish company.
He is survived by his wife, Claire; family Sinead O'Reilly,  Abby, Seanin, Maurice-Dee and Eireann Power; sister Maureen Byrne (Navan); brothers, Matt, Kentstown, and Jim and Noel in Luton.
The funeral took place from the Church of St John the Baptist, Kilberry, to St Mary's Cemetery, Navan.

MRS E ROWE, NAVAN
THERE was considerable sadness in Navan and among her many friends and acquaintances at the news of the unexpected death of Mrs Betty Rowe (67), Blackwater Park, Navan, in early December at the Mater Private Hospital.
A member of the Beggy family of Flower Hill and St Mary's Park, she worked for several years for The Meath Chronicle and latterly was a well-known member of staff at TR's newsagents. A keen football supporter, she played tennis and badminton in her youth and was also an athletics fan. She was a music enthusiast, a member of St Mary's Parish Choir and a Eucharistic Minister of St Mary's Parish. She participated in the Rathkenny Revels in earlier years, while she shared her husband Sylvester's enthusiasm for classical music and opera. She was an active member of Navan Recorded Classical Music Society for several years
She is survived by her husband, Sylvester; son Mark, daughter Louise; brothers, Gerald, Thomas, John, Frederick and Joseph; sisters, Mary, Angela, Joan and Christina; son-in-law, Alan; daughter-in-law, Aileen, grandson Conor, brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and a wide circle of friends and neighbours.
Her remains were removed to St. Mary's Church, where Funeral Mass was celebrated prior to interment in St Mary's Cemetery.

MR J RUSSELL, NAVAN
THE death took place on Saturday 12th January last of Mr James Russell,
a member of one of Navan's oldest families and a well known personality
in the town's business, sporting and drama circles.
Mr Russell, a plumbing contractor, continued the family business
established by his grandfather, also James, in the late 1800s. His
father, Mattie, was a former Meath footballer, and his mother, May taught
in Kentstown National School. Mr Russell carried on the plumbing
business until his retirement in 2003 due to ill-health.
Two years ago, in 2006, he attended a ceremony at the Millmount Museum
in Drogheda where documents relating to his grandfather's apprenticeship
in the town were presented  to the museum by the family.
Mr Russell was educated at the De La Salle primary school and St
Patrick's Classical School, Navan, as well as DIT Bolton Street, where
he later lectured for some time in the 1960s.
Throughout his life, deceased was deeply involved with the GAA, from his
playing days with De La Salle and Navan O'Mahonys , to his time as a
manager and officer with Bective GFC. His work with the underage teams
and the formation of the hurling team were prime examples of his
dedication. He was very proud to see his son Ruairi lead the Bective
junior team to championship success in 1997. He was also a keen follower
of football throughout the county, following the Meath teams and club
championships until it was no longer possible for him to do so, in 2006.
James Russell, from an early age, was involved in music and drama, from
his childhood days with Rev Fr Gerry Herbert's choir to his time with the Navan Male Voice Choir. He was a member of the Navan Pioneer Players Dramatic Society and took part in many of its productions, culminating in his being offered a
scholarship to the Brendan Smith Theatre Academy. He also enjoyed music,
literature and poetry, and spoke fluent Irish.
Deceased enjoyed world travel and with his friend Mr Joe Monaghan, crossed
Jordan and Syria into the Holy Land in the early 1960s. In 1968, he
travelled through South America on his way to the Olympics in Mexico city.
The deceased led the campaign with his late mother, as well as Mrs Elizabeth Hickey and Mr George Claxton in the early 1970s to preserve the historic Kilcarn bridge and its successful outcome was a source of great pride to him. He also served in that decade as secretary of the Navan Retailers Association.
Mr Russell was blessed with a deep Christian faith and had a profound
understanding and belief in the Church and sacraments. He will be
remembered as a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend who always
had a great love of his family and home.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Marie, Dublin Road, Navan; sons,
Matthew, St Finian's Terrace, Ruairi, Dublin Road, David, Straffan, Co
Kildare; daughter, Niamh, Dublin Road; brothers Mattie and Oliver,
Ashbourne; sister, Ann Cahill, Moatlands, Navan,', extended family,
relatives and friends.
Mr Russell's funeral Mass was celebrated in St Mary's Church, Navan, on
Tuesday of last week, by Rev Fr Brendan Ludlow, CC, Navan, assisted by
Very Rev Fr Jim Lynch, PP,  Ashbourne, and Rev Fr Seamus Cassidy, Navan
Road, Dublin, a family friend. Burial followed in St Mary's Cemetery.

MR M SMITH, KILTALE & OXFORD
THE death occurred on 14th December  last in Oxford, England of Mr Michael Smith, formerly of Kiltale, Dunsany.
Deceased is survived by his wife, Angela; daughter, Heidi; brother, Frank, Kiltale; sisters, Eileen Travers, Bohermeen, Mary Brien, Moynalvey, Margaret Malone, Abbeygrove, Navan; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his brothers, Larry and Val.
The Funeral Mass and burial took place in Oxford on 21st December. A Memorial Mass will be held in Kiltale Church on Friday night, 25th January, at 7pm.