Westport mourns the passing of Teresa Berry
The late Teresa Berry was wife of the former owner of The Mayo News, Joe Berry
THERE was sadness around the offices of The Mayo News this morning, and the wider West Mayo area in general, when the news broke of the passing of Teresa Berry (née Dever), Newport Road, Westport.
Teresa passed away peacefully in the wonderful care of the staff in the Claddagh ward, University Hospital Galway, with her family by her side.
Teresa was predeceased by her husband Joe in 2004. Joe Berry was well-known throughout the region as the owner of Berry's Print Works, and later down, The Mayo News.
Joe Berry headed up a local consortium in the late 1980s who brought The Mayo News and he eventually assumed total ownership of the paper. After Joe's sudden passing in 2004, his son Dermot took over the running of the paper before it was purchased by the Iconic Media Group in September 2022.
The printing business which Joe and Teresa Berry developed on the Golf Course Road in Westport is still operational and know now as Smurfit Westrock. And the Berry name is still very much to the fore in the Westport business community, with Joe and Teresa's daughter Louise, and her husband Shane, running Berry's Stationery and Print Shop on the Fairgreen in Westport, next door to The Mayo News.
The Editor of The Mayo News, Michael Duffy, said he and the staff of the newspaper would like to express sympathy to Teresa's family, daughters Brenda, Carol, Louise and son Dermot, and all their extended families.
“There was sadness in The Mayo News office this morning when the news of the passing of Teresa Berry was relayed to us. Teresa was a steadfast presence beside her husband Joe when he assumed control of the newspaper in the late 80s.
“Teresa was a regular visitor to the office for many years and she was heartbroken to lose her husband Joe when he died suddenly in 2004. Teresa's guidance was still very much to the fore when her son Dermot and his late wife Natalie assumed ownership of the paper, until it was sold to the Iconic Media Group in 2022.
“Teresa remained very involved in the community life of Westport up until very recently, and she mostly enjoyed good health until falling ill in recent weeks. She will be missed by all her close family and a wide circle of friends in Westport. May she rest in peace.”
Teresa will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by her children Brenda (Antonio), Dermot, Carol and Louise (Shane) along with her adored grandchildren Kate, Hayley, Lilly, Luisa, Mary, Emma and Aoife, her nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.
Reposing will take place in Navin’s Funeral Home on Wednesday evening, June 24 from 5pm to 6.30pm.
Teresa's funeral will arrive to St Mary’s Church, Westport on Thursday morning, June 25, at 10.30am where Mass will be celebrated for Teresa at 11am. Burial will take place immediately afterwards in Aughavale Cemetery.
For those unable to attend on Thursday morning, Teresa’s Funeral Mass can be viewed by clicking on the following link at 11am: www.churchtv.ie/westport.