The Late Catherine Bennett Mrs Catherine Bennett, Ballasalla, Johnswell, who died at Drakelands Nursing Home, Kilkenny, after a short illness had reached the great age of 101. Born Catherine Teehan on April 2 1901, she was of a family of 14, only one of whom is now surviving his sister Eily. She was baptised in Ballycallan, where she was also confirmed. She was married there on August 12, 1929 to John Joe Bennett. On her marriage she moved to Ballasalla where she gave birth to six children. She lived happily in Ballasalla for 73 years. Sadly, she was widowed early when her husband died in December 1964. Politically, she was very proud to have played an active part in the foundation of the State. She was only 14 years old when she first became actively involved and she maintained her interest in politics all her life. She met with and spoke with all the early Ministers, Prime Ministers and Presidents of Ireland. Everyone knew where he allegiance lay, but she was also tolerant of the opposite view. She was delighted to receive a beautiful card and enclosure from President Mary McAleese on her 100th birthday and also a special medallion to mark her 101st birthday last April. Mrs Bennett was a wonderful wife, and mother. A strict disciplarian, she was very faithful to her prayers. One of her favourite prayers when an animal or such died, was 'Let the will of God be done' When everyone gathered for the celebrations of her 100th birthday, she instructed her family to thank all their neighbours for their help and support when the Bennett family suffered the dreaded Foot and Mouth disease in the 1940s. She had a great love of Gaelic Games, particularly hurling, and she maintained her interest up to the date she died, September 8, the day Kilkenny beat Clare. Her bed was decorated with the black and amber colours for the match. She told everyone she wouldn't die until after the All-Ireland. Her wish was granted. A very interesting fact is that she saw all of Kilkenny's 27 All-Ireland senior titles. She knew hurlers in every decade and, in fact, instructed her daughter, to send a good luck card to D.J. Carey and the Kilkenny team members before this year's All-Ireland final. Mrs Bennett was extremely proud of her children, 19 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren and her wish was that all of her extended family would uphold her high principles of justice and peace. She had a phenomenal memory and loved to recall historical events with her family. She was so proud of all her children but it is fair to say that the ordination of her late son, Fr Bill, was the highlight of her life and his death four years ago was a great blow to her. It gave her great comfort and pride to receive so many letters and phone calls from his former parishioners in Newcastle, praising his great work as a missionary. She also had a brother a priest. He went as a missionary. She also had a brother a priest. He went as a missionary to Sydney, Australia, in 1916 and died there in 1960. Mrs Bennett will be deeply missed. She enriched the lives of all those she came in contact with and she would have been delighted to see the large crowd that attended her funeral to celebrate her long and healthy life. Her remains were removed to St John The Baptist Church, Johnswell, where they were received by her nephew Fr. Eamon Foley, Bishop Laurence Forristal was among the attendance, with a large number of other clergy. Chief celebrant at the funeral Mass was another nephew, Fr Patsy Foley, assisted by a big number of priests. Burial followed at the adjoining cemetery. She is survived by sons, Ted and Oliver, daughters Margaret, Bredhe and Mary, sister Eily; grandchildren, great grandchildren, relatives and friends. Courtesy of the Kilkenny People September 2002 Tweet

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