'East Limerick has lost a friend': Founder of day care centre passes away

A MAN lost his wife, a son his mother and the whole of east Limerick lost a friend with the sudden passing of Liz Grant.

Originally from Bodyke, Clare’s loss was Limerick’s gain after she made Cappamore her home thanks to loving husband Tom. Liz epitomised the strong community spirit in Cappamore.

Liz, aged 69, was one of the founding staff in Cappamore Day Care Centre and has been its manager since Sr Mercy O’Dea retired. It is a home from home for many elderly people in east Limerick who come every week for meals, medical care, music, dancing, bingo, fun and lots more.

Liz called in sick on Monday, March 27, which in itself was strange, and on the following day she went to her God after a short illness. Josephine Ryan, who is the acting manager of the day care centre, said the staff and clients are still in shock.

“It is the saddest thing that ever happened here. I started with Liz on the very first day when the doors opened 23 years ago.

She loved the day care centre - she lived and breathed it. Her big thing was the clients and staff.

“She even had trips planned for June and a summer party planned in her head. We will honour her wishes as best we can. It is hard to keep the door open but we know we have to for the clients and we have to for Liz. We have to honour her memory and that’s what she would want,” said Ms Ryan.

She said the clients are really missing Liz.

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“We have a beautiful altar when you come in the door with a big photo of Liz on it. She is the first face you see when you come in the door. We also have a little candle lighting for her.

“The clients love to talk about how good she was to them. She led the prayers, did the exercises, called the bingo, brought them down to the sitting room and had them laughing with her jokes. She always had presents for them,” said Ms Ryan.

Liz was due to retire this summer but planned to return as a client and continue to say the prayers and call the bingo.

“It’s so sad she didn’t get to see her retirement. We’re all heartbroken,” said Ms Ryan.

Cllr Martin Ryan said Liz was looking forward to being spoiled as opposed to doing the spoiling in the day care centre.

“She is a massive loss to the parish. Liz was her own character, there is no character like her. Liz was a mother to young and old,” said Cllr Ryan. The large attendance at her removal and funeral showed just how highly she was held, he said.

“She had a community guard of honour from the whole village,” said Cllr Ryan.

Cathaoirleach of the Cappamore-Kilmallock municipal district, Cllr John Egan said Liz was an “outstanding person”.

“Her kindness to people was unreal. She had a natural affinity with people and to mind and look after people. Her contribution to the day care centre will be greatly missed and her legacy will be remembered forever by the clients she cared for and the staff who worked with her. She will be remembered for her kindness and how good she was,” said Cllr Egan.

Ms Ryan, Cllr Ryan and Cllr Egan all extended their sympathies to Liz’s loving husband Tom, son Bobby, family and many friends.

On the way to her final resting place in Ballinure Cemetery the hearse stopped outside Cappamore Day Care Centre one last time. May she rest in peace.