Margie
White, New Oak Estate, Carlow. died in 1993 aged 43 years. For many
years Margie was involved with Carlow County Heritage Society and played
an active role with the society. She acted as advisor on the "Living
Memory" project recording the memories of our senior citizens on video
in 1986-91. In 1990 Margie was supervisor of the "Tombstone
Transcription Project", During this time she personally transcribed all
the tombstone inscriptions in the burial ground at the "Scots Church"
Carlow. Margie was mourned by her husband, Michael, her two sons,
Vincent and Seamus and her mother, Esther Murphy, Granby Row.
Following her death the following appreciation by
Michael Purcell was published in the Nationalist:
"I hope to make the best of it whatever way it goes"
was Margie White's response to the diagnosis that she had contracted
cancer, and over the following 20 months that's just how it was.
Entering the bewildering world of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation,
transcending every obstacle, it seemed the best came out in her. In
spite of fatigue and physical strain, Margie retained her capacity to
find a humorous side of every circumstance and every new trauma. There
was pain and frustration but little complaint was heard by her loyal
network of family and friends who themselves were often close to tears
as they called on her, brought her out and entertained her (I think she
gave them strength).
Through a lifetime of concern and hospitality for
others Margie had accumulated many friends. She added a richness to
their lives, now they in turn lightened her burden and enveloped her
with loving care. Her visits to Lourdes in 1992 and again in 1993 gave
Margie renewed hope and a sense of acceptance of God's will. Over many
years the door to Margie's home was always welcomingly open to friends
and to friends of friends - all were treated like family. The memories
of those happy occasions contain so much fun and goodness that they will
always be treasured by those of us who became part of that extended
family. Margie never looked for or saw the bad in anyone, a lifetime of
unselfishness endeared her to everyone she met. The large attendance at
her funeral gave an indication of just how many lives she had touched
through her own life.
Every year Margie gave me a gift of " The Friendship
Book -- a thought for each day". The books are before me now as I write,
including the 1993 edition. Last February when she gave me that book she
asked me to read aloud the entry for November 6th, her birthday, it
contains the lines: "Hope discovers what can be done instead of
grumbling about what cannot. Hope puts up with modest gains, realising
that the longest journey starts with one step. Hope draws its power from
a deep trust in God and the basic goodness of mankind. Hope is a good
loser because it has the divine assurance of final victory."
Today our thoughts go to her family whose love never
failed Margie as she completed her journey of hope.
M.P.
- Source: "Appreciation" written by
Michael Purcell and published in the Nationalist
1993
- The image originally published on page 151 of
"Carlow Past and Present" 1996 and edited by Michael Purcell.
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