The death has occurred of Ann Rochford (nee Whelan) from Mountmellick, a highly-regarded former secondary school teacher in Scoil Chriost Ri.
Mrs Rochford taught Irish and Maths at the Portlaoise secondary school, formerly referred to as ‘The Convent’ and is remembered for the kindness shown to her pupils over a long number of years.
Prior to that she had taught in the Loreto secondary school in Kilkenny, following on from being one of the first lay female students to study in Maynooth University.
The Rochford family have a deep involvement in a range of community groups around Mountmellick and Ann was an accomplished and well-travelled Bridge player.
The family are also very well-known in farming circles around Mountmellick and further afield.
Ann will be sadly missed by her loving husband Gerard, her children Mark, Marie, Ann-Claire (AC) and Geraldine, her siblings Denis (Clonsaughey), Mary Hennessy (Abbeyleix), Breda Joyce (Rathfarnham), John Joe (Kilcloon) and Margaret Scully (Stradbally), her 11 adored grandchildren Tadhg, Feena, Lucia, Seren, Ruth, Cahir, Luke, Peter, Honor, Raonaid and Ryan.
She is also mourned by her daughter-in-law Aileen (née Kiernan), her sons-in-law Carl Byrne, Gerard Reynolds and Liam Stack, her sisters-in-law Breda Whelan, Helen, Catherine, Mary and Bernardine Rochford, her brothers-in-law (James Hennessy deceased), Pat Joyce, Seán Scully, Ray and Feargal Rochford, her nieces, nephews, extended family, former teaching colleagues at Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
Reposing in her home on Monday, December 5, from 2pm. Recital of The Rosary at 8pm. Funeral arriving St Joseph’s Church, Mountmellick for Requiem Mass on Tuesday at 11am. Burial after in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
House private on Tuesday morning. Family flowers only.
The Mass will be live streamed on www.mountmellickparish.ie.
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 from Mountmellick, a highly-regarded former secondary school teacher in Scoil Chriost Ri. ){kind=link}