Ita Laffan (née Keating), 38 Cork Road

It is with deep and sincere regret we record the death of Mrs Ita Laffan (née Keating) 38 Cork Road who died in Waterford Regional Hospital on Friday January 3^rd 2014 in her ninetieth year. Her remains were removed from Waterford Regional Hospital on Sunday January 5^th to St John’s Church where they were received by Fr. Ailbe Murphy OFM with Fr. Declan Corish OP PP St Saviour’s and Fr. Paul Murphy PP St John’s in attendance. Burial took place following concelebrated mass celebrated by Fr. Ailbe Murphy OFM and Fr. Paul Murphy PP to St Senan’s cemetery Kilmacow. Her son Jack and grandson Paul read the readings. The prayers of the faithful were read by her grandchildren Ita, Barry and David Murphy, Anne Laffan Gerard Kavanagh and her nieces Maura Brennan and Louise Keating. The gifts were brought to the altar by her daughters Marian, Gabrielle and Catherine. Her son Jack spoke of Ita’s life following communion. Donna Roche sang sacred music during the ceremony with organist Catherine Power. The Under 14 and 16 Wild Cats basketball teams formed a guard of honour at the church. Before her marriage Ita worked in Butler’s Pub Ballybricken and the L&N. She was left a young widow some 47 years ago when her beloved husband Joe died.  She then went back to work and worked in various jobs. She was manager of the L&N Gift Shop and would have been very well known when she worked in Harney’s Bakery in Johnstown. She then worked as a receptionist in the Little Sisters of the Poor Manor Hill until she retired at the age of 79 years. She served on a number of community committees, such as the Christian Services committee St Johns, the Combined Parishes Committee who organised, among other entertainments for the over 60’s, the over 60’s talent competition. She served as secretary of the committee for the best part of 30 years, St Vincent de Paul Society and the Finance committee of the De La Salle Scouts. She was also some years ago a member of the Board of Directors of St Dominic’s Credit Union and was very much an advocate of the Credit Union Movement. Ita loved singing and represented her parish St John’s in the Over 60’s talent competition. She loved knitting and doing crosswords.  She was a very outgoing person who was greatly admired by everyone who had the pleasure to know her. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother, a great friend and neighbour. She was best friends with Ada Kavanagh whom she was friends with for over 40 years and with whom she travelled all over the world in their younger days.  Ita was a lovely lady who will be sadly missed by family and friends which was shown by the huge cortege at both the removal and burial. Predeceased by her husband Joe, her son Padric, her brothers and sisters (her brother Pat died on January 9^th some 6 days following her death). She is survived by her son Jack Rathfadden Villas, her daughters Marian Murphy Ballybeg Court, Gabrielle Kavanagh Congress Place and Catherine Ryan Cork Road, her 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, her sons-in-lawn John Ryan, Tom Murphy and Paul Kavanagh, her daughter-in-law Anne, nephews nieces relatives and her great friend Ada Kavanagh and friends to whom we offer our deepest sympathy