‘I want no more tears after today’: Limerick mum’s poignant letter read at her funeral

“NOW you can rest. No more pain, no more suffering, no more fighting. Carol, until we meet again, close your eyes and rest now”.

The words of Liam, the heartbroken husband of Carol Liston O’Connor, who died aged just 45 following a battle with motor-neurone disease (MND).

Mourners sat and stood shoulder to shoulder at the funeral Mass for the mother-of-five, who hailed from Athea, but set up home in Dromcollogher, as her life was celebrated at Our Lady of the Snows Church in neighbouring Broadford.

At the Mass, Carol - whose smile lit up every room she was in - addressed the congregation in the form of a posthumous letter, read out by her brother, Ian.

“Be kind to each other. Smile, laugh, dance like no-one is watching,” she said in the letter.

Carol is also survived by her loving children Ellie Mai, Molly, Liam Og, Paddy and Mikie.

“I promise you, Carol, I will look after them. I will keep your memory alive, and be assured they will never forget what an incredible woman their mother was,” Liam told mourners.

He added there is a little bit of her in each of their five children, especially their girls Ellie Mai and Molly.

“Even yesterday, when I was getting ready to come to the removal, I was walking down the stairs, and Ellie Mai stops me and told me I need to shave - ‘don’t go downstairs like that!’ On Sunday, we were going back to Abbeyfeale to collect mum after she was embalmed. The next thing, Molly came up to me, and reminded me that I needed to put on my wedding ring,” added Liam.

In the letter to her community, Carol wrote: “I am leaving my children, my legacy in your arms. Hold them, hug them, but most importantly talk to them. Tell them everything they need to know about me. Keep me alive. I want no more tears after today.”

And she thanked her loving family, in particular her husband and children for all the care they gave to her.

“You’ve been my hands, legs and voice for as long as I’ve been grateful for. It’s not easy at this time, but you showed up every day. Only we know what our journey has been like, and from now on, I want you all to be free. Free to hop in the car, free to go for a drive without the whole day being planned and organised. Go walking, go cycling. Live the best version of your life you possibly can,” the letter read.

Husband Liam paid tribute to everyone who has supported his family since Carol was diagnosed with MND aged only 41 back in 2022.

From the night nurses at Milford Hospice, who he described as “absolute angels”, to Bernie, Sarah and Sinead, “who have become Carol’s best friends.”

The funeral Mass opened with pictures of Carol, her friends and family, taken over the last few years.

Fr Frank O’Dea, who led the Mass, said Carol had prepared a “blanket of photos from over the last four years depicting her journey through her illness”.

“It’s a visual reminder of joyfulness through sadness. It shows us the bravery of Carol. She wasn’t going to hide away or hide behind her illness. It’s a blanket of smiles through sadness. It’s a blanket of hope. Let it be a source of light and a source of hope,” he added.

Carol’s grá for the GAA was evident in many of the pictures - including ones taken of her with the Liam MacCarthy Cup, and Limerick hurling stars Nickie Quaid, Shane Dowling, and current hurler of the year Gearoid Hegarty - where she was able to say hello to him in the Croke Park tunnel following Limerick’s victory over Galway in this year’s All-Ireland final.

The gifts brought to the altar in her memory reflected her love of the national game.

An Athea GAA jersey was presented, her home club. A Broadford ladies’ football shirt was also brought up, reflecting the pride she had in supporting her daughters.

A Dromcollogher-Broadford GAA shirt reflected her adopted community, and represented a particularly fond memory, as noted by Fr O’Dea.

“Carol proudly watched Molly win an under-12 hurling tournament. Molly was captain, and as she collected the shield, Carol’s pride beamed. It was unfortunately her last trip outside of home. But it was a tribute to her lifetime and love and dedication to the GAA.”

A Limerick jersey was presented, as well as a hurley and football.

“There was always an array of footballs, sliotars and hurleys around the house,” the priest said. “This made Carol so proud. And even prouder as window after window in the house was smashed - too many to count!” he smiled.

A picture of Carol’s school, Desmond College, was presented, with Fr O’Dea saying: “Her favourite part of being a teacher was, in her own words, that she always backed the underdog.”

A family picture was another treasure presented in the church.

Carol will be remembered and forever loved by her adoring husband Liam, treasured children Ellie Maí, Molly, Liam Óg, Paddy, Mikie, beloved parents Haulie and the late Catherine, her loyal and loving brother Ian, his wife Bridget and beloved nephew JJ, sister Gillian and family.

She was laid to rest in Springfield Cemetery, near Broadford.

May she rest in peace.