WIDESPREAD regret was occasioned following the recent passing of Nora Houston, Lackenagh, Burtonport, which took place in Letterkenny University Hospital.
Nora had been unwell for some weeks previous to her passing and spent some weeks in Letterkenny hospital where she received excellent care.
A native of Gortnasade, Kincasslagh, she was a member of the well known O’Donnell family. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Anthony in 2008 and also by her brother, Tony and her sisters, Bridie and Maureen.
In her youth, Nora worked in Edinburgh and while there, she met her beloved Anthony and they married in Scotland. Their daughter Mary Ellen was born in Scotland.
In 1970, they returned to live in Burtonport and their two sons, Anthony and Denis were born here. She took up employment as a post lady for the Burtonport area and indeed was one of the first to hold such a position in the country. She immensely enjoyed her work and had a great relationship with all households.
Nora took early retirement in 2002 to take care of her husband, Anthony. She was a woman of great vision and had a great interest in community activities. She was the founder member of some very important projects in this area, including the Good Morning Service that she ran with a number of other volunteers, making contact with elderly people on a weekly basis.
The Good Morning Service had a call centre in St. Columba’s Community Centre for a number of years with the organisation’s head office in Buncrana. This service was a huge benefit to many people, especially during the Covid period.
Nora’s second project was the hugely popular market/bargain rail in the Community Centre in Burtonport. It ran for some eight years until its closure in February 2024. Nora set it up originally to help with the running costs of the Community Centre and expanded to help other local community projects and the returns from recycling to Acres Church and our local schools.
Along with her helpers from the centre, Nora ran the facility very professionally and there was always a warm welcome for all callers to the bargain rail.
She also came up with the idea of running a community garden at the back of the centre and had the honour of officially opening the garden in the centre’s 30 years celebration in 2023.
Nora was also a long time member of the Burtonport Community Alert Committee.
Above all, Nora was an outstanding wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend and was very popular with all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Her passing leaves a huge void in this area, where she will always be fondly remembered.
Her funeral took place to Belcruit Cemetery, following Mass in St. Columba’s Church, Acres, celebrated by Rev. Fr. Pat Ward, PP and Rev. Fr. Matt McInerny.
At the beginning of the Mass. Nora’s grandson Owen Houston outlined the background to the various symbols of Nora’s life which were brought up to the altar. Granddaughter Emma brought up a family picture, granddaughter Faela took up her post office badge, Nora’s niece, Joanne brought up a plant and niece Katie took up a vase as a symbol of her community work.
Readers at the Mass were Nora’s nephew, Cathal Kelly and her grandson, Conor Houston. The prayers of the faithful were read by her grandchildren, Emma, Faela, Daithi, Seán and her niece Deirdre Doherty. The offertory gifts were taken up by her sisters Annette and Kathleen. Singing was by her grandchildren Alice, Hannah and Michael Houston, accompanied by Joe Rodgers on guitar.
At the end of the Mass, a reflection was read by Anne Bradley. A guard of honour was formed at the church by members of St. Columba’s Community Centre.
Nora is survived by her daughter, Mary Ellen Hyland, sons, Anthony in Maghery, Denis in Lackenagh, sisters, Annette Doherty, Gaoth Dobhair and Kathleen Denby, Scotland, son-in-law John Hyland, daughters-in-law, Yvonne and Niamh Houston, other in-laws, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends, to whom deepest sympathy is extended.
Nora’s month’s mind Mass takes place in St. Columba’s Church, Acres on Saturday, May 17 at 6.30pm.
David Alcorn
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