Monthly Archives: August 2023

Betty Reilly appreciated

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Betty Reilly appreciated

(RIP 2/8/2023)

Fr Price kindly rang me last week to let me know that Betty (Elizabeth) was on her last legs in the nursing home in Santry where she has been living since Peadar, her husband, died there. Betty struggled on until last night with everyone praying for her. I have very, very happy and fond memories of Betty.

She was there in Balgaddy at the beginning of the amazing Divine Mercy Conferences story in the early 90’s. Betty was always very loyal to the Divine Mercy and to Fr Cathal and Don. She loved the Monday nights Rosaries too,

with Joan Keaney and Sr Germaine. What a great depth of prayer we shared.

She was great pals too with Loretta and Monica and Gerry Duff and Margaret O Dowd and Kevin King. She loved Sr Margaret and Sr Marinus and Sr Pascal too. A great friend to all. I know she kept me in prayer too. I felt I was special to Betty. So did many. She really loved her family too, it was obvious to see.

Betty had a really beautiful, pleasant, genuine personality and a lovely family. She had a great gift of prayer and I know she quietly helped a lot of people. Always humble and thoughtful. Deeply compassionate. She helped out a lot, serving cheerfully at the early conferences in the RDS. More Mary than Martha.

I visited Betty in the nursing home with Peadar in the last few years. Betty was bright as a button though Peadar was confused. I liked good humoured Peadar too. My wife, Maura, met Betty in their home, The Bungalow, in Balgaddy, when we were married in 2014.

Maura thought Betty was a beautiful, wise, intelligent, spiritual person like George’s wife, Betty (Bernadette), and my own gentle mother, Mary. So peaceful, joyful and positive. Bursting with great love and devotion. A great wife and a great mother. A truly exquisite soul. I am sure when she dies, Betty will be a great Saint. She never failed to pray for everyone and remembered everyone in prayer. Betty also liked the Blue Book. She would never say an uncharitable word about Fr Price. She was his number one fan, always deeply loyal. She knew him well in his early, turbulent days in Balgaddy and kept in touch with him in Kilbarrack. 

All I can say, in the end, is that I was always mad about Betty.

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