Helen Crosse-Concannon – Remembered as proud Tipperary woman who made Limerick home

AT MASSES on Christmas Eve and Day, Helen Crosse-Concannon sang with her colleagues in the church choir.

Tragically, just over two weeks later the same choir held back tears as they performed at her funeral Mass in Ss Peter and Paul’s Church in Crecora. Helen was just 52-years-old.

It is one of countless examples of her strength and fortitude as she fought her illness for almost seven years every step of the way.

Another example is that Helen had an operation the day after she gave a beautiful oration at her mother’s funeral Mass in 2019. The majority of her extended family only learned of the planned procedure afterwards.

Very sadly, Helen passed away unexpectedly, surrounded by her loving family, on Tuesday, January 10. And what a loving family - her beloved husband Martin and their two children - the apples of her eye - Denise, aged 14, and Patrick, 13.

Helen was the youngest of the late Denis and Eileen Crosse’s nine children - born in Donohill, Tipperary.

One of her five brothers, Tom Crosse, in his oration at her funeral Mass, said she was the “pet of the family” and he spoke of her pretty face and glorious curls as a child.

In later life, Limerick became Helen’s home but she remained a fiercely proud Tipperary woman. Two of the gifts brought to the altar were a Tipperary jersey, which she wore to the 2019 All-Ireland final when the Premier County defeated Kilkenny, and a Tipperary flag which she waved with pride. Despite living in Dooradoyle and then Crecora for decades, Helen still drove a T- registered car.

After finishing school in St Anne’s, Tipperary Town, Helen picked education as her chosen career and she qualified from University College Cork as a secondary school teacher.

She taught English and French in Kilmallock and then Cappamore, her mother’s homeplace. Helen had even worked as an au pair in France during her college holidays to become a fluent French speaker.

After St Michael’s in Cappamore amalgamated with the two schools in Doon to form Scoil na Trionoide Naofa, Helen taught in the new school. She also returned to UCC to qualify as a special education teacher.

Helen taught in Doon until her forced retirement on health grounds due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The influence she had on so many young lives was reflected by the number of former students who attended her obsequies. Her removal lasted for four and a half hours such was the number of people from near and far who wanted to pay their respects.

The church in Crecora was also overflowing with mourners at her funeral Mass. There were a number of guards of honour such was the high esteem in which Helen was held.

Some of her favourite hymns were sung at the Mass by Sarah Murphy and the choir. Helen’s love of singing was complemented by her talent on the piano. She even qualified as a piano teacher.

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But the three loves of her life were Martin and their children Denise and Patrick.

Martin described his wife of 17 years as a “wonderful wife and mother”.

“She was always supporting them on the sideline and bringing them to matches and training sessions,”  said Martin, who spoke fondly of family holidays in Dingle and Lahinch.

Among other gifts brought to the altar at the funeral Mass said by Canon John O’Shea, and concelebrated by Fr Richie Davern, Fr Chris O’Donnell, Fr Damien Ryan and Fr Tim Wrenn, was a handbag from her collection. Helen loved fashion, particularly handbags and shoes. Whether she was in Dublin, Limerick, Cork or Galway she would always pop into Brown Thomas.

There have been countless tributes paid including from Crecora Manister GAA, Crecora Camogie Club, Laurel Hill Secondary School, Ardscoil Rís, Crecora NS and An Garda Siochána as Martin is a sergeant in Kilmallock.

Inspector Gearoid Thompson, based in Bruff, extended his sympathies on behalf of An Garda Siochana in the county community engagement area and especially in Kilmallock.

Tom Crosse said his sister was “a lady of great class, elegant, gentle, soft-spoken and sophisticated”. He added: “She was a woman of great courage, enormous pride and profound dignity.” That courage has been passed down to her children as they both spoke at the funeral Mass after their dad.

Martin thanked her medical team for taking such care of Helen for almost seven years, in particular, her GP Dr CrÍona Burns; Dr Shona Tormey and her team in UHL; and consultant oncologist Dr David Fennelly and his team in the Blackrock Clinic.

Then Patrick and Denise spoke movingly about their mum.

“I’m proud to have you as my mother,” said Patrick.

Denise said: “I’m so lucky to have been given the best mother in the world.”

Helen’s legacy will live on in them and their shared memories which will last a lifetime. May she rest in peace.