The late Denis Leonard The death took place in the Erne Hospital on the 2nd January 2007 of Denis (Dinny) Leonard, Knocks, Lisnaskea. He was 96 and, up until four years previously he had enjoyed excellent health and had led a very active life, following a lifelong career as a progressive and a model farmer. Such was his contribution to his community that the removal of the remains from his son, Peter's home the following evening to Holy Cross Church, Lisnaskea and the funeral Mass there the following morning were both attended by large numbers. In hid homily at the Mass, Canon Joseph Mullin, PP linked Dinny to the great oak, with deep roots in the Knock soil, under whose branches many found shelter and who was, he said, a gentleman , and a man of integrity and courtesy. Dinny was one in a family of three boys, one of whom died in childhood. Peter made his mark in England, leaving Dinny to look after the home farm in the Knocks. His working life began in 1942 as soon as he had left school. He married Maggie Gilbride in 1932. They were a devoted couple and the proud parents of nine children. Dinny in turn was joined by his eldest son, Peter in the management of the farm. He found in his father a good teacher, a man with a exceptional knowledge of farming methods, of cattle and pigs. Outside of family and farming, Dinny found time for recreation and community. He had an abiding interest in the GAA and in his younger days he founded, played for and managed the legendary Knocks Grattans football team. Throughout his life, he had the pleasure of seeing his sons and grandchildren play. Elsewhere, he represented the area as a member of Lisnaskea Rural District Council and, later, Fermanagh County Council. As ever, his first allegiance, apart from his family, was to his parish and as Canon Mullin noted in his homily, he was instrumental in gathering the money for the building of its Catholic Schools. The present St Eugene's PS, Knocks was held up by Canon Mullin as a monument, one of a number, to his good life and work ('it erased all doubts that a good education lives forever'). Given the era he lived through, it was natural that he took more than a passing interest in politics, but he had the ability to hold dear to an opinion while respecting an opposing view. He had a fierce interest in Irish culture, so much so that it extended from his first love, family and local history to music. He followed the latter closely through the hand-on involvement of his son, Dinnie, a well-known tutor in the Irish tradition, and his own family down to the third generation. In fact, Mr Leonard, Sen was able to count on four generations of Leonards, with him being the first tier. Sadly, his wife, Maggie died in 1983, and then their daughter, Gretta in 1998, but, with the encouragement of a close-knit family, he was able to live a fulfilled independent lifestyle until his health declined four year ago. He was also supported by his allegiance to the Sacraments and to the Rosary, and had his favourite seat in Holy Cross for morning and the 11 o'clock Sunday Masses. Two year ago, Dinny moved to the Graan Abbey Nursing Home where he quickly became a favourite with staff and fellow residents. In return, he received the best of care and attention, both physical and spiritual. His grandchildren, great grandchildren and his great great grandchildren were a constant source of happiness and it was fitting that his surviving eight family members were represented in various ways in the liturgy of the funeral Mass. The first removal of his remains, from the Graan to the deceased son's Peter's home. were met by Fr Ian Fee, CC, Lisnaskea and Fr Brain D'Arcy , CP the Graan. The following day, Fr Brendan Shannon said that the parting prayers in the house prior to the final journey to Holy Cross. The celebrant of the funeral Mass, Canon Mullin, PP was assisted by Fr D'Arcy, Fr Richard Owens, Columban Fathers (Coonian) and Fr Gerry Ferguson. The organist was Rhona McNally and the choir comprised Tommy McDermott and Olivia Neeson. Guards of honour before and after Mass included personnel from the local Fire Station, the ladies and men's teams from St Patrick's GFC, the Knocks Grattans, the Erne Marching Band, St Eugene's PS and St Comhghall's Secondary schools. Canon Mullin referred to Dinny's long life and to his generation who, he suggested, seemed more comfortable with death than the present generation ('they had a fear for death and a respect for life that we're in danger of losing today'). "There was a sense of the prevailing presence of God in good times and bad. They had a sense that God was close and for that reason, they had a great sense of reverence. As the Bible tells us: the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God'. Nothing can come between us and the love of God made visible with Christ", he said. He said Dinny would have accepted the final act of life, for, no matter the length of years, the great dividing line was the gap between life and death. That sense of God's presence in his life, he told the mourners, was reflected in many ways. It showed in his commitment in his early days to fund-raising to provide 'a good education and excellent schooling for his community'. Burial took place in the adjoining cemetery and, at the family's request donations in lieu of flowers were directed through the funeral undertakers, Messers McCaffrey & Swift to Chest, Heart and Stroke. Mr Leonard was pre-deceased by his wife, Maggie, their daughter, Gretta, his daughter-in-law Moira, Brookeborough, son in law, Frank, Aughnadrumsee and grandchildren, Richard, Paul and Patricia. He is immediately survived by his daughters and sons, Lily (Tony), England; Anna, Aughadrumssee; Peter (Bridie), Knocks; Theresa (Pat) Brookeborough; Dinnie (Dolores) Brookeborough; Mena (Gabriel); Dessie (Catherine), and Brendan (Penny), all in England, and by three more generations. Courtesy of the Fermanagh Herald 24 January 2007 Tweet

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