RIP: Passing of Mayo man prominently felt in local village

Tom Stenson, Mountain, Aghamore, and formerly Cappagh, Tooreen, was a staunch member of the Irish community in Leeds for many years before returning to his native Mayo.

Born and raised in the lovely village of Cappagh, Tom, like so many others from his generation in the 1950s, emigrated to England and made his home in Leeds.

It was a popular destination for many young Irish people at the time and especially with those from Mayo and Donegal.

It is little wonder that the Mayo and Donegal Associations in Leeds remain the biggest two of all the County Associations after all those years.

Tom (85) was the second in a family of five born to Tom and Delia Stenson. His years in Leeds were
mainly in the construction business and it was while there that he met Margaret Egan from Shanvaghera, Knock, and they were married in 1968.

Tom was a big part of the Irish community in Leeds in those years and was highly respected for his
honesty, loyalty and devotion to his values and traditions that he remained so faithful to down the years.

Sunday Mass was an integral part of every week.

But his heart remained in Ireland and the family moved home to Mayo where they set up home in
Aghamore. Tom lived a quiet and humble life, always away from the limelight where his kind and caring disposition was always to the fore.

He was very highly thought of by all who knew him and will be greatly missed around the local community.

Fr Jerald David, assisted by Fr Stephen Farragher, PP, Ballyhaunis, celebrated the Mass in St Mary’s
Church, Tooreen, with the funeral proceeding to Shannon Crematorium for Cremation Service.

Fr Jerald said Tom was a down-to-earth man who was always giving to others and to whom family and faith meant everything. Carmel McLoughlin from Frenchpark provided the music and song during the liturgy.

Tom, who was predeceased by his brothers John and Joe, will be sadly missed by his wife Margaret and their family, Tina, John and Angela, grandchildren Lucy and Nathan, sons-in-law Rod and Alex, sisters Annie Marie (New York) and Geraldine (Ballyhaunis), his brother Denis (Swinford), sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and friends.