Published: Friday, 11th December, 2009 12:00pm

Annie passes away at 104 years of age

Cavan's oldest woman Annie Fitzsimons has passed at the amazing age of 104 years and eight months.

Annie was a lady blessed with a sunshine personality and she was born in the month of April, 1905 and loved nature and everything to do with the land and the garden.

On many occasions during her long and healthy life, Annie referred to the fact that she was born in the springtime, when everything was coming to life in the garden and nature was reawakening.

She never spoke about dying and it was only in the last few weeks of her life that she became feeble.

Annie passed away at home with her son Jim and her daughter-in-law Rose in Killykeen, Ballyheelan. Jim and Rose have four sons Richard, Brian, Paul and James and they are her only grandchildren. She had one son Jim and two daughters Nuala and Eileen.

She was predeceased by her husband Richie Fitzsimons in 1971 and she always recalled that they got married on a Wednesday, because it was considered the luckiest day of the week.

Her daughter-in-law Rose told The Anglo-Celt that Annie had a great life and enjoyed every day. She was resourceful and good to the earth and the atmosphere and put nothing to loss.

When Annie went out to purchase a new coat, she would always buy the best on in the shop.

"She would tell you later that it was only expensive, the day it was purchased."

She always maintained a happy disposition and a great serenity, which probably was a factor in her longevity.

When interviewed by The Anglo-Celt last year, Annie attributed her long life to hard work and giving up sugar.

Annie was a very selfless person and her care for others was legendary.

She was the oldest living paid up member of the ICA in Co. Cavan and Ireland as a whole and would have attended meetings up until last year.

This amazing lady was never hospitalised until she broke her hip when she was 100 years of age and made a complete recovery from that injury. Her three children were born at home as well.

Her generosity was also well known and she always supported everything in the locality and the foreign missions.

She was laid to rest in Ballynarry cemetery after requiem mass in the local church.

• See Kilnaleck news on page 43 of print edition for more on Mrs. Fitzsimons.