‘Guardian angel’ tips Ballinrobe woman $2,500

Imelda Murphy Sprenger (right) with Kim who delivered the envelope from the ‘guardian angel’.

Ciara Galvin

BALLINROBE woman Imelda Murphy Sprenger couldn’t believe her luck recently when she received a $2,500 tip from a stranger.
Originally from Ballinrobe, but residing in Chicago for the last 22 years, Imelda was working a busy shift in Nick’s Pizza and Pub when the act of kindness happened.
The daughter of a man she had served in the restaurant for many years presented her with the envelope.
“I didn’t know what to think because my birthday and Christmas had passed,” said Imelda, who is daughter of Joe and Mae Murphy. Imelda then thought it might be an invite to a party.
“As I opened the envelope, I had this rush of awkward confusion. I didn’t understand. Someone just gave me this huge gift and I didn’t know who it was from because the card wasn’t signed,” explained Imelda.
She then asked the woman [Kim] who delivered the card and she replied ‘it’s from your guardian angel’.
Imelda was told that the woman who had given the gift had dined at the restaurant a few years ago and Imelda took care of her family. “I apparently stood out to her and I guess made an impression or something, I have no idea.”
The card read, ‘Imelda, here’s hoping this helps on getting you back to Ballinrobe in 2017’.
The mother of Devlyn and Keelan said what was bizarre is that the guardian angel mentioned Ballinrobe.
“When people over here ask me where I’m from, I just say Co Mayo.” Imelda hasn’t been home in over five years since her sister Sharon’s wedding, but hopes to return home in the not too distant future to see her family.
She got to travel home for the family wedding after another kind gesture, $1,000 from Kim’s father and his friends.
Asked if Murphy Sprenger had a message to the mysterious woman, she said, “I’m overwhelmingly grateful and wish I knew who it was so I could just give her the biggest, tightest hug in the world. She really is my guardian angel.”