Carolyn Murphy, who passed away on Sunday, was beautiful. It came from the inside out, and anyone who ever had the pleasure of meeting her would gladly claim her as a friend.
CAROLYN Murphy, who passed away on Sunday, was beautiful. It came from the inside out, and anyone who ever had the pleasure of meeting her would gladly claim her as a friend.
Carolyn was known through the pages of The Southern Star as the friend and former assistant of the movie legend Maureen O’Hara.
But the woman who – together with her husband Bill – made Dromkeal in Ballylickey, Bantry, her home in 1975, was known, valued, and respected by an entire community. She passed away peacefully after a long and rather brilliant battle with cancer.
She was surrounded at Marymount Hospice by her husband and her children: Kevin, Brendan, Meghan, Kale, Garrith and Geraldine. The late Billy, was probably there in spirit, too.
All of them will miss her. So, too, will her brothers George and Sean, and her sister Susan; her grandchildren; her great grandchildren; and her large circle of friends.
In June, Carolyn made it known that she had been given months to live. Since then people from all walks of life have made it their business to reach out, make contact, and let her know that she mattered in their lives.
It was in 2007 that Carolyn had a double mastectomy.
Since then she received various treatments – all of which were borne with her innate and rather remarkable dignity.
The Buddhists have a saying that ‘a good death’ happens when the way a person dies reflects the way they’ve lived their lives.
Carolyn Murphy lived well, and she died well.
May she rest in peace.
