Limerick's oldest citizen Betty (107) laid to rest

Kayley Hardiman, 17 Aug


Tributes have been paid to the late Betty McElholm following her
funeral yesterday in Ss Peter & Paul's Church Kilmallock.

Fr Chris O'Donnell said Betty had been "part and parcel of life" in the
town since 1917.

Fr O'Donnell remarked: "In many ways, she's been like family to so
many, a fixture in the lives of so many people here. You've never known
life without Betty as such." He said locals would miss her "smiling
face" and warmth but acknowledged that Betty would be happy to reunite
with her late husband Sam.

"She had such a great glint of devilment in her eyes and joy and a
smile that lit up the world that we'll all miss." The local priest said
it was rare that he would get to perform a funeral for someone who had
lived to the age of 107.

A number of symbols were brought forward to represent Betty's life;
Scots Clan sweets, a mystery book, Ireland's Own magazine and flowers
and bulbs to show Betty's love of gardening and nature.

Fr O'Donnell said: To know Betty was to know she loved to read. It's
probably what kept her as sharp as she was. She could in her heyday
read a few books in a week.

Betty grew up with seven siblings in a busy house and had many stories
of growing up in Kilmallock. While her siblings largely spread their
wings, Betty stayed in the town.

"People will marvel at Betty's age and we're grateful for this but more
important than this was her love and kindness and the great example she
was to the people of Kilmallock and beyond," said Fr O'Donnell. "In her
107 years, Betty has left a trail of nameless acts of kindness and
love, and we give thanks for the friendship and the love that she
poured into your hearts and lives today."

Betty's mother Mary ran a shop on Kilmallock’s main street where Betty
lived until her death. The shop was notably burned to the ground by the
Black and Tans in July 1920 when Betty was three-years-old.

Fr O'Donnell said Betty had some great phrases and a great heart. She
also loves sport and spoke about crying on her way home from an all
Ireland in years gone by when Limerick lost to Kilkenny.

"She could tell stories of raids on the barracks and her house being
burnt down and living in Effin for a few years as a child. She had also
cycled to Effin regularly to visit family, and the children knew she
wouldn't arrive without sweets so she was always welcome," commented Fr
O'Donnell.

The limerick priest also described Betty as very "determined" and
recounted when she suffered a bad nosebleed in the night on one
occasion and refused to allow the paramedics to carry her down the
stairs. "They were insisting on carrying her down the stairs, but they
were told in no uncertain terms that she had walked up and down that
stairs for over a hundred years and it wasn't going to change."

The Kilmallock woman is understood to have been the sixth oldest person
in Ireland. Remarkably, she lived at home in Kilmallock with the
assistance of family members until quite recently before being cared
for in nearby Maria Goretti Nursing Home.

Betty passed away in the loving care of the staff and management of
Maria Goretti Nursing Home, Kilmallock, on August 13.