A CARING, DEDICATED woman who loved to dance, sing, play games and change her hairstyle.
This is how Cobh remembered Valerie Greaney today.
At her funeral, Father Patrick O’Donoghue spoke of the community’s “unexpected loss” at a time normally associated with celebration.
He described the woman, who was killed by her husband Michael last weekend, as a “very caring person”.
She had many changing hairstyles to reflect her outgoing character; she would often be one of the last to leave a party and had built up a wide circle of friends, of all ages. Her love of dancing and singing carried over into her daily life, and she could be found dancing at home even as she was making the dinner – even if there was a dispute as to whether she needed dancing lessons or not.
“We are at a stage now where we are left with so many questions where there are no answers and many where we will never have an answer and to explore them would not give us much in return,” Fr O’Donoghue said, addressing the congregation at St Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh.
Michael Greaney, who took his own life after his attack on his wife and daughter Michelle, will be laid to rest at a separate mass tomorrow.
The family have requested those attending the mass to give donations to the charity Breaking The Silence, which offers support to those who are suicidal, in lieu of flowers.
The HSE is now investigating the deaths of the man and wife, as Michael had been released from the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin less than two months before the tragedy.
If you need someone to talk to, contact:
Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Console 1800 247 247 – (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement)
Aware 1890 303 302 (depression anxiety)
Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie - (suicide, self-harm, bereavement)
Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)
Originally published: 11.14
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