RIP: Cavan community saddened by death of 'man of great strength and wit'
Late Connie Fitzsimons, Grousehall, Loughduff, Co Cavan
The death took place peacefully on Friday, October 30 of Connie Fitzsimons, Grousehall, Loughduff, Co Cavan at Cavan General Hospital surrounded by his loving family.
Connie had been ill for only a short time and the news of his death came as a great shock to the local community where he was highly regarded as a man of great strength and wit.
He had a unique physical presence sporting a trilby hat and always a beard and a glint in his eye.
As a lorry driver, Connie was a safe hand at the wheel as Johnny Brady sings travelling every road in Ireland he had a friendly wave and a word for all he met.
A good neighbour he was always a willing pair of hands, doing church collections and volunteering for a good cause where he was a regular with his wife Margaret at Saturday evening mass.
In 1988 Connie brought a bit of excitement to the parish when he was called to spin the wheel in the Saturday night lottery game show. Would he become a millionaire, well he did win but not that much but it earned him the title ‘Dollars’ afterwards.
Connie was a great supporter of the local GFC and a large number of his grandchildren are involved with the Senior and underage teams and the game due to be played on Sunday was rearranged for his funeral.
Connie was a great family man, a dedicated husband to Margaret, father and grandfather and was very proud of all their achievements.
Connie and Margaret loved to dance and took the floor regularly in Ballinagh and further afield and were experts at the quickstep.
Connie was predeceased by his parents Tom and Katie and will be sadly missed by his devoted wife Margaret, daughters Marie (Philip), Caroline (Thomas), Lorraine (Mark), sons Oliver (Amanda), Fintan (Ava), sister Mary Byrne, brother-in-law TJ, sisters in law Mary Halpin (Jerry), Bridget Kellett and Monica Reilly (Kevin), his adored grandchildren Michaela, Rachel, Colin, Dillon, Luke, Oisin, Anna, Emily, Alice, Louis, great-grand- sons Shea and Kaiden, nieces Karen (Shane), Emer (Fergal), Kerrie (Gerard), relatives, neighbours and friends.
His remains reposed at his residence on Saturday evening and following concelebrated mass on Sunday, November 1 in St Joseph’s church, Loughduff burial took place in local cemetery.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.