Tullamore mourns tireless advocate for youth

The death has taken place of Sr Genevieve Hassey, a Tullamore-based Sister of Mercy, known for her tireless work with generations of young people in the town.

Sr Genny, as she was known, passed away on Saturday, at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore.

Sr Genny was deeply involved with St Mary's Youth and Community Centre in Tullamore as well as many other community groups. She retired from the board of St Mary's Youth Centre in November 2023. Last year, the board established a third-level scholarship in her honour.

She was the recipient of an address of civic recognition from Offaly County Council in January 2022 to mark her work with young people.

Born in Freshford, Co Kilkenny, her family moved to Castledermot, Co. Kildare, when she was 10, and shortly afterwards to Tullamore, firstly to Bridge Street, and later to Marian Place.

She entered the novitiate at St Joseph’s Convent, Tullamore in 1962, before studying at University College Galway from where she graduated with first class honours in 1967. She obtained her Higher Diploma in Education in Galway.

She taught for many years at the Sacred Heart School, and later in Tullamore College, and was also a full-time liturgist with Tullamore Parish. She was also a board member of Tullamore Community Training Centre. She also taught in England in her younger days, and worked on the missions in Zambia.

She played a key role in persuading her Order, the Sisters of Mercy, to have the former St Philomena's school turned into St. Mary's Youth Centre. Over the years, she played a prominent part at national level in the National Youth Federation.

Pre-deceased by her parents Tom and Mary and her brother Willie, she will be sadly missed by her nieces Yvonne and Brenda, nephew Kevin, cousins (Co. Wexford), Sisters of Mercy community Tullamore, Sisters in the Northern branch, relatives, many friends and work colleagues.

Her Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 2pm in the Church of the Assumption, Tullamore, with burial afterwards in Clonminch Cemetery, Tullamore.