Surrounded by her loving family following a brief illness, Catherine (Kathleen, née Ryan) gently passed away in Cork University Hospital on September 26, 2024. Originally from Ballymacoda, she was the adored wife of Jim and a loving mother to Kieran, Jamie, Aidan, Kathryn, Amy, and Barry. She predeceased her brother Pat and is also a close sister to Nuala and Moira.
Always warm and supportive, Catherine was a pillar of love for her family—always here with direction. She loved every time she spent with her children and grandkids; her relationship with them was unchangeable. Her husband Jim, children, grandchildren Naomi, Grace, Evan, Aidan, Carly, and Ayla will be most sorely missed; her daughters-in-law, Aoife and Ruth, and son-in–law, Eamonn will also be much missed.
Beyond her family, Kathleen’s dynamic presence included her sisters, nephews, nieces, and a large circle of relatives and friends. Everyone she came across was permanently changed by her kind demeanour, giving nature, and unflinching love for her hometown.
Rehoming Cork Pets Shares Sincere Condolence Upon Notice Of Catherine O’Brien Death:
“We were saddened today to hear of the passing of Kathleen O’Brien – an amazing person whom I met when she adopted Cooper from us in 2013. Kathleen was someone you’d like from the first minute you met her, a lovely, kind soul. She gave Cooper the most amazing life & home, along with getting a home for another one of our dogs, Roxy, with her sister-in-law. Kathleen took Roxy home after her sister-in-law passed away. She also adopted Radar and, most recently, her daughter adopted Layla. Kathleen helped at our street collections and would always support our events; a true animal lover always. We will miss Kathleen and her wonderful, always positive, happy attitude. We offer our condolences to all her family and friends, thank you for being a good friend and a wonderful pet owner, RIP Kathleen.”
Funeral Information
On Sunday, September 29th, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm Catherine will be reposing at Barry Bros. Funeral Home in Hazelwood, Glanmire. Monday, September 30th, 2:00 pm will be her Requiem Mass at St. Mary’s Church, Knockraha; interment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Little Island will follow.
The family kindly asks no flowers. Rather, Catherine’s legacy might be honoured by gifts to Rehoming Cork Pets and the West Cork Animal Welfare Group, therefore expressing her love of animals and compassion.
