Knockanara, Ballyhaunis
Rita was formerly Finn from Erriff, Ballyhaunis and belonged to a highly regarded family from that village. A good many of the Finn family emigrated to America and Rita herself spent the best part of a decade in that land across the great Atlantic ocean. She never lost her love for America and made many trips back and forth in the years since she returned to settle in her native Mayo.
For Rita, the simple things in life were the most important. She was devoted to her family and her home. (One of her family, Donal, was appointed to the Council of State for a term during the Presidential tenure of Mary Robinson). In earlier years, she assisted Jackie with the work on the land and the farm and had a fine knowledge of all matters relating to the farming scene.
A gifted conversationalist, Rita loved to engage people and had great rapport with her friends and neighbours. She looked forward her weekly trip to Ballyhaunis every Friday over the years, making the usual calls and meeting up with old friends. For Rita, these were times to treasure and she retained a great knowledge of the people of the general Ballyhaunis region right to the end.
She enjoyed good health up until the last few weeks and she died peacefully in Castlebar hospital. The community tenders sympathy to the Toolan family on their sad bereavement.
The very large attendance at the funeral ceremonies reflected the special regard in which she was held by so many. Removal took place from Donnellan’s Funeral Home in Ballyhaunis to Logboy Church with interment in Ballyhaunis cemetery following Requiem Mass celebrated by Canon Joe Cooney and assisted by Fr JJ Cribbin. At the request of the family, her neighbour and friend, well-known singer Kevin Prendergast, sung a lovely version of The Boys From the County Mayo. It was a song that Rita always loved since her own young days in America.
She is survived by her family, Mary (America), James (America), Marguerite Moran (Ballyhaunis), Noreen Coyne (Ballyveale, Ballyhaunis), John (America), and Donal and Brendan (Dublin), in-laws, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
