Obituary of Sheelagh Callaghan

Sheelagh A. Callaghan, a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away on Thursday morning, July 12, 2012. She was 88 years old. Sheelagh was born in the town of Moy, in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. She grew up and was educated in Moy. During World War II she met an American Serviceman, Frank Callaghan, who was stationed in Northern Ireland. They courted while in Ireland and following the war, Frank proposed to Sheelagh to come to the United States to be his wife. They were married in 1946 and had made their home in New Jersey until 1958, when Frank went to work at RCA in Burlington. They settled in Burlington and raised their 5 children. Sheelagh’s life was devoted to her family. She was a loving wife and made a wonderful home for her family, filled with laughter and the aroma of fresh pies. She was a supportive and caring mother, and a proud grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved celebrating the holidays, family gatherings, and sharing in family celebrations and events. She returned home to Northern Ireland many times to visit family and friends. In her leisure time she enjoyed crocheting, cross stitch, and baking. She loved to walk and was often seen all over Burlington. She loved the ocean because it reminded her of home in Ireland. She was extremely generous and charitable. She was a wonderful role model to her children and grandchildren. Sheelagh was the beloved wife of the late Frank M. Callaghan. She was the loving mother of Michael Callaghan of Manchester, NH, Aine Bellofatto of Pepperell, Sharon Haug & her husband Rick of Pawling, NY, Frank Callaghan of Burlington, and Breda Connors & her husband Timothy of Tyngsboro. Sister of Molly Lennon of Armagh, N. Ireland, the late Frank, Kevin, and James Kelly. Grandmother of Daniel & Christopher Bellofatto, Sarah Boyle, Ricky, Kevin & Brigitte Haug and Matthew & Paul Connors. Great-grandmother of Madison , McKenna, & Corey Bellofatto and Sean & Adam Haug. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Monday, July 16 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday from 3-6 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Sheelagh’s name may be made to Food for the Poor, P.O. Box 979005, Coconut Creek, FL 33097-9005. Family Remembrance: Read By Michael - Written together by Michael and Breda REMAIN You will remain with us for a lifetime, Though you have now moved on. Memories of you will last with every breath, Every time we go to church, the seacoast, To the mall, or just sit to have a cup of tea. No matter whose kitchen it is, we will think of you. Remembering long phone conversations About the latest movie you saw, fun luncheons and coffee trips. Thoughts of your sweetness Your spunk and kindness, Your face will come to mind. I believe it will for all of us here Who, you shared your life with. Family and Friends were your life, and you didn’t hesitate to show us. We are thankful and richly blessed because you were our mom. Not just a part of our lives but a friend Who listened, inspired, influenced and shared YOU. They say each of us is unique Never to be duplicated again. Having you as our Mom, we know this is true. We will see traits in each other that will call you to mind, With all the memories, Of the laughter, wisdom and love You shared with us. Because we hold you in our hearts we never really say goodbye to you. *** We just want to take a moment to say thank you to all of Moms friends. Over the recent past her needs have increased And you have helped her way beyond the call of friendship. To many ways to count, but want to tell you how much we noticed And are grateful. Mum's father, John Kelly, owned a pub, The Grand Bar. She was born in Moy, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Her father died when she was four. Her mum, Josephine took over the pub and later her older brother did. Mum would bake, sweets as she would say, cakes and pies, to sell in the pub. Her pie crust is still the best. Her mum would take her sister Molly and brothers Frank, Kevin and Jim to the coast in her car for day trips, as she did all her life; Warrenpoint, Portrush, Rathmullan, Bundoran, Rockport and Falmouth. In her early teens she had scarlet fever. Mum became totally deaf in the right ear and partially deaf in the left. She had the mastoid removed from the right ear in her late teens. During that time in the hospital, the Nazi's were bombing Belfast. Mum and her friend Mairéad, later to become our Aunt, would vacation at the coast in Donegal, and would smuggle less expensive articles of clothing and jewelry in socks back over the Ireland, Northern Ireland border. They did this on bicycles, mum was not allowed to drive because of her hearing. Aunt Molly met dad at a dance and went home and told mum, I want you to meet this nice guy, you will like him. The next dance they met. Mum and dad decided to live in the US. Mum had the spirit to transform her life, giving up a relationships of family, friends, and culture, because of love. A courageous act as Aunt Molly said. That was in September of 1946. Next, Michael and Áine came along. Mum became a US citizen in 1951. Then Sharon, Frank and Breda. She and dad decided to move to improve their lives and their band of five, to Burlington in 1958. Another courageous act of love. Trips back to Ireland started in the mid sixties for mum, but she was still smuggling, Crunchie Bars, candy, for her five. She was still devoted to her mum and family in Ireland. Writing letters constantly all her life. Dad past away in 1985. Mum's life was devoted to dad, her children, friends and her family in Ireland. Mum's brother, Uncle Jim once said, &quote;The Irish are action people.&quote; It is not what they say, but do. That is mum, she loved you by doing and giving and loved the doing and giving to you. Mum has a strong faith. She gave to charitable organizations to the poor, and contributed to sponsor a child once a month. She believed in prayer and did it often, if not daily. Her smile showed her spirit of balance between her prayer and actions, the core of her spirit. Just as the first part is named Remain, the Gospel reading in mum's prayer book is marked at John 15. &quote;Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.&quote; Mum your every actions will remain with us. Mum took two years of Irish, Gaeilge, in high school. In the Irish language the Irish greet each other, with a blessing, &quote;Dia dhuit&quote;, &quote;God to you&quote; mum.