Church Service for visitor who made Nenagh her home

The contribution to the community by a couple who made Nenagh their home will be recalled on Sunday week next when a memorial service is held in Saint Mary's Church at Church Road in the town.

People will gather to celebrate the life of Raela Croft, who died last September at the age of 82.

The service will take place at at 11am on January 15 for the woman who was affectionately known to her friends as Rae. And her family has issued an invitation to everyone in the community to attend.

Rae and her late husband Dennis Croft retired to Nenagh, from South London, just over 20 years ago and settled in quickly to become an extremely popular couple in their adopted town. They decided to make Nenagh their permanent home after falling in love with the locality following a number of holidays in the area.

Before coming to Nenagh the couple lived in the UK where Rae was a headteacher in a large primary school in Woolwich, South London, where she led a team who supported children from a multitude of backgrounds and languages.

She and Dennis were married for almost 50 years and Rae's life changed dramatically when Dennis died in 2016.

The couple were members of the Church of Ireland and they both relished the friendships they enjoyed with members of Saint Mary’s Church, Rae using her great skills in needlework and knitting for the benefit of the church.

FAILING HEALTH

The onset of pandemic in 2020 and failing health made life harder for Rae in the last couple of years of her life, but she continued to be sustained by the many good friends she had made in Nenagh. As her family has stated, it was her friends in this community that prevented her from becoming completely isolated during the challenging periods of ongoing Covid lockdowns.

Some time after Dennis died, Rae moved from the home they had shared together in Radharc Darach in Belmont to the Sue Ryder home at Stereame. In the last year of her life Rae was, according to her family, “looked after fantastically” by Dr Muiris O’Keefe, Mrs Isabel Treacy, the staff at Sue Ryder House, the HSE’s Home Support Team, staff at Nenagh Hospital and Nenagh Manor Nursing Home.

Rae, who died peacefully at Nenagh Manor Nursing Home on September 19 last year, was a well read, wise and generous person and friend who always made time for others. Chats at her kitchen table often became thought provoking conversations.

During their two decades in Nenagh both Rae and Dennis immersed themselves in community life, supporting the redevelopment of the Scout Hall, new facilities at St Mary’s Junior school on Church Road, joining the Church of Ireland choir and being key participants in the Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church.

In retirement Rae furthered her passion as a gardener, using much of her own produce in home cooking and jam making. Rae and Dennis looked after several rescued dogs and Rae, who was a prolific knitter, lovingly producing hundreds of woolly hats for children in Africa.

Rae enjoyed her time at the local Sue Ryder home before age and failing health meant she could stay there no longer, prompting a move to Nenagh Manor nursing home.

There was no service for Rae after she died last September because she did not want a funeral. A private cremation ceremony was held, but now the opportunity approaches to celebrate her life at the forthcoming service.

DENNIS REMEMBERED

There's no doubt that the life and valued contribution to the community of Dennis will be recalled also at Sunday week's ceremony.

Dennis' name is synonymous with the owl sculpture that stands outside St Mary's National School as he included funds in his will for the eye-catching work of art. He had a great affinity with the school where he used to carry out repair works.

The owl sculpture was crafted from the Macrocarpa tree at the front of the school grounds. The tree posed a hazard and had to be felled. However, the trunk was preserved and transformed into the wondrous sculptured creation that is marvelled at by locals and visitors alike.

The owls are extremely fitting for a school as they are a symbol of education and wisdom. After her husband died Rae was among the guests invited to the school to celebrate its achievement in being awarded a Green Flag and to formally unveil the owl sculpture.

Rae is survived by her daughter, Nicky, and her stepdaughter, Wendy.