TRIBUTES have been paid to “legend” great-great-grandmother Elizabeth Lyons (102), who passed away in her native St Mary’s parish this Wednesday (March 26).
The charming centenarian died following an illness, surrounded by her family members in the comfort of her own home at Lee Estate, Island Road.
Ms Lyons, born in January 1923, was a guest of honour at her local St Mary’s parish church where she switched on the church’s Christmas tree lights in December 2024, 2023, and in 2022 just shy of her 100th birthday.
Speaking after the church organised a live concert celebration in her honour in December 2022, Ms Lyons beamed and said: “I feel like a film star.”
Born Elizabeth Kelly, as the country fell into civil war, she was baptised on the grounds of where St Mary’s Church now stands, where she married her late husband Martin Lyons, and where she will be remembered at her funeral mass this weekend.
She gave birth to 12 children, was a grandmother to over 40 grandchildren and more than 50 great-grandchildren, as well as a bundle of great-great grandchildren.
“She had her own little seat in the church and she turned on the Christmas lights last year and she was always always at mass,” said Gerry O’Donovan, sacristan St Mary’s Church.
Paying tribute, St Mary’s parish priest Fr Richie Davern said Ms Lyon’s always provided a “gentle grateful presence in the congregation” and she would be sadly missed.
“She was the most unassuming woman, but yet, she carried gravitas because he was a native of the parish and reached such a huge age having never left the parish,” said Fr Davern,
“She is an institution locally, and I don’t know what the exact tally is yet, but this extraordinary lady has left behind her over 140 direct descendants, which is absolutely mind-blowing.
“There is a loneliness about her going, but also, I think what has been amazing is that she got to pass away at home in her own bed, that’s a perfect end to her story. We will miss her now at the church, especially for turning on the Christmas lights in December.
“A lot of her family were with her at the end, and she was cared for by the hospice in the past couple of days and I only saw her yesterday when she was chirpy out, smiling away, and she gave me a ‘good morning’.
“She had a lovely gentle presence about her, she was just lovely, she was a legend.”
Ms Lyons remains will repose at Cross’s Funeral Home in Limerick City from 3pm to 6pm on Friday. Her funeral mass takes place at St Mary’s Chruch, Athlunkard, at midday on Saturday.
