Knowing Patsy was 'a grace itself' priest tells funeral

The village of Belleek and the larger surrounding areas have been plunged into deep sorrow at the sad news of the death of its much-loved undertaker Patsy McCauley.

Patsy passed away from a suspected heart attack on Tuesday, April 16.

Villagers in the close-knit community are still in shock at the news that the man who officiated at so many of their families' final days is now heading for his eternal rest.

He would have been 76 last Wednesday.

Patsy, was the ideal man for his job as he had all the social graces, sympathy, empathy, but above all natural human kindness in his 46 years as an undertaker.

The death of a loved one is a very traumatic time but when you were in the hands of Patsy McCauley, you were indeed blessed.

And he will be especially remembered for the great empathy he showed so many families when their loved ones passed away during the terrible time of Covid.

That was a trying time for Patsy as well, but he dealt with it in dignity, respect and wonderful compassion.

He buried our father Willie and mother Rose, and we will never forget how he managed to ease us through a terrible time and make us feel that we could cope no matter what happened.

Patsy once told this writer that the most important thing about being an undertaker was to have “compassion and dignity because when a family is grieving it is a very hard time and you just have to be able to do what they want done".

But he was also witty and could play verbal volleyball with the very best.

But for many years Patsy was the beating heart of our community and was at the centre of all that is good about this special place.

On Friday morning, St. Patrick’s Church, Belleek was overflowing outside and the village was flooded with parked cars, as a massive crowd came to pay their respects to the man who had the face of a boy and the heart of a lion.

The last funeral he officiated was that of the late Ina O’Loughlin and you could see the care and compassion in every movement he made in his long black coat, black gloves and black top hat.

On this bright Friday morning there was a stunned sombre silence of disbelief that one so youthful, so vibrant and so kind was lying in a coffin in the place that was like his second home.

It was strange looking at his family photo and his black hat sitting on top his coffin as you expected to see Patsy, immaculately turned out, walking slowly up the chapel, missing nothing, respect and reverence in every step he took.

It was even stranger to think that instead of walking in front of the coffin he was resting inside.

In a moving eulogy Fr. Frank McManus said it was a “very sad occasion as we bid farewell to a man who has been a marvellous servant to the people of this community and beyond".

“Whether as a funeral undertaker, a businessman, a volunteer or in various other activities, Patsy excelled.”

Fr. McManus especially welcomed Patsy’s wife Dolores and their son Matthew and Aideen; his brothers Liam and Brendan; his sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews and all relatives and friends.

He also welcomed all the various organizations that Patsy served in including the former fire service, the local Credit Union, the Chamber of Commerce and Development associations, his colleagues from Bundoran Golf Club who stood a guard of honour).

Fr. McManus also welcomed Belleek Parish Priest Fr. Tiernach Beggan, Patsy’s close friend Canon Ramon Munster, Fr. Dermot Burke and Reverend Rebecca Gildea from the local Church of Ireland community.

He added that he was “only too aware that the news of Patsy’s sudden passing was a great shock to many because Patsy had touched so many people’s lives as a funeral undertaker and also his many friends".

“Patsy had worked with people in most difficult and sensitive times in their own personal and family lives.

“Knowing Patsy was a grace in itself.”

Referring to the Gospel on the Beatitudes Fr. McManus spoke of the gifts of the Holy Spirit which included: “Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.”

“But as we gather in sadness at Patsy’s funeral, we can give thanks for the way these values manifested themselves in the life and person of Patsy McCauley. As a husband, father, family man and professionally as an undertaker and his many community activities or indeed among his friends in times of great sorrow.”

Fr. McManus recalled that Patsy was born on April 17, 1948, and he died the day before his 76th birthday last Tuesday, April 16.

He was the first-born of three sons of William and Sarah McCauley and was educated in Belleek Primary School and in the Technical School in Ballyshannon.

“After he left school at 15, he got a job in Tommy Daly’s bar and shop in Belleek and this was where he got the first taste of the profession he was to take up for 46 years.

“In 1979, Patsy took over as the local undertaker and also opened a shop where he sold a wide variety of goods from toys to groceries and as a businessman he always had an eye to spot an opportunity and he was the first person in Belleek to sell the National Lottery and also sold buckets and spades for passing traffic from Tyrone and other counties en route to seaside places like Bundoran, Rossnowlagh and Mullaghmore."

Patsy sold the iconic shop at the top of the village in 2006 but continued as an undertaker and as a concierge.

“Patsy began working as a concierge in hotels in Bundoran and most notably in the Lough Erne Hotel where he greeted Barack Obama, David Cameron, Angela Merkel, Enda Kenny and Vladmir Putin at the G8 Summit in 2013 in the Lough Erne hotel.

“Patsy showed Obama around the hotel and the latter clearly enjoyed Patsy’s company as he presented him with white house cuff links afterwards, a gift that Patsy treasured."

But it was his contribution to his local community that was truly wonderful.

“For many years Patsy was the beating heart of this community and was at the centre of all that is good about this special place, as a highly respected businessman, a voluntary fireman, a driving force in the Credit Union, a former Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and presided over the highly successful Old Fair Day in 1987 and helped produce a book on the area in the mid-1980s and only a few weeks ago he was involved in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.”

Fr. McManus said that “no matter how busy Patsy was, he always remained a family man".

“With so many commitments it was difficult to see how he could fit in time for past times.

“But Patsy was also a man of good cheer, friendly and humorous and enjoyed the lighter side of life and he could give as good as he got when it came to banter.

“He was a great ceilidher and loved to chat and he eventually found time for golf eventually serving both as Captain and President of Bundoran Golf Club."

Fr. McManus concluded by saying Patsy would be remembered for his great empathy.

“Patsy walked with families through many difficult and sensitive times, and he will be remembered for the great empathy that he showed so many families when their loved ones passed away.

“He brought with him, dignity respect, compassion and also wisdom and good judgement."

And then the throngs of people of the place he loved so well walked slowly behind his coffin as he made his last journey to St. Patrick’s graveyard.

It was done with great dignity, empathy, reverence and respect.

Just the way Patsy would have liked.