The son of Philomena (Mena) Blake (nee Dooris) has paid tribute to a woman who always “put the needs of others before herself”.

Mena passed away on November 4 at the South West Acute Hospital from cancer, and even during those tough times, she kept going, making little fuss.

“She was always on the go and looking at what difference she could make,” said her son Paul, a local SDLP councillor.

Mena was married to well-known, retired businessman Pat Blake, Enniskillen, who formerly owned Pat’s Bar at the Diamond in Enniskillen.

“Even throughout her cancer battle, she never complained once. It was never in her personality to ever complain; she just got on with it. She never told anyone what she was going through. She never told anyone she was in pain.

“That was a running joke in the family, about how if she tells you she is 7 out of 10 in pain, she really means 10 out of 10. She was that kind of person that got on with it,” he said.

Born in Castle Street, Enniskillen, the Dooris family then moved to Hillview.

Mena was educated at the Convent Primary School, Mount Lourdes Grammar School and St. Mary’s College before becoming a teacher.

And, as an educator, she was always looking at how she could improve the lives of others, explained Paul.

“She was a very selfless person. Everything she did was for the benefit of others throughout her whole teaching life as well, and she was big into the Girl Guides and the parish.

“She loved giving up her time for the service of others and that was always her way.”

This selflessness, and the impact she made, were seen by the large number of people who paid their respects to Mena – something that Paul said was a great comfort to the family.

“We can’t thank people enough for helping us through our difficult days.

“For me, that’s the comfort I get out of that time around her funeral – the volume of people that came and met us in Ballycassidy Funeral Home; the number of cards we’ve received; the number of messages we have received, and the volume of people that turned up to St. Michael’s for  the funeral.

“What you get out of that is you realise that mum touched so many lives in so many different ways; she did things with minimal fuss, but yet she had a huge impact on people.”

Following her Funeral Mass on November 7, Philomena was buried in Cross Cemetery.

Beloved wife of Pat and loving mother of William, Briege and Paul (Anna-Marie), she was a much-loved sister of Una (Pat), Mary (Stuart) and Brendan (Rosie), and her sister-in-law Ann (Paul RIP).

Her passing is deeply regretted and she is very sadly missed by her husband, daughter, sons, sisters and brother, her many nieces and nephews and her many, many friends.