Obituary – Mrs Pauline Ryan, Lissadel Drive, Tuam.

THE MARK of a life well lived is not always the size of one's funeral. But in the case of Pauline Ryan, whose funeral Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Tuam, on Sunday May 22 was one of the best attended for many years, the number of lives she touched was a measure of a life lived to the full. One of the words most frequently used to describe Pauline was 'lady'. And while feminists may argue that the word implies a certain old-fashioned submission, 'lady' in the modern sense means a woman who cares for the feelings of others, who is polite and considerate, and whose company is a pleasure. For very many people, Pauline Ryan's company was something to enjoy. Whether as a work colleague, a golf partner, a dancer or a conversationalist, she always brought something new to the conversation, leavened with an often mischievous humour. Pauline Cullen was born just short of 63 years ago near Doocastle, a corner of Mayo close to the Sligo and Roscommon borders. She went to her local national school, and when the schools were re-organised she changed aged ten to Doocastle, where one of the older pupils was a lad called Seamus Ryan. Secondary school was in the convent in Gurteen, Co Sligo, but there was time for a social life also, and when Pauline was 15 or so she struck up a relationship with Seamus that went from the traditional 'on and off' of teenage years to commitment,  engagement and marriage. After a career start in the Great Southern Hotel in Sligo, Pauline went to work in the Bank of Ireland in College Green, Dublin. In the meantime Seamus joined the Gárda Síochána and after border duty was posted to Dublin in 1969. After their marriage in December 1972 Pauline worked with An Bord Bainne and they lived in Ballinteer where their three daughters, Nolita, Karena and Paula were born. Wanting to raise their children in a rural environment, Seamus applied for a transfer and was posted to Mountbellew in 1978, where the family was completed with the arrival of James. On promotion to sergeant, Seamus was transferred to Castlefin in Co Donegal, and a year later to Barnaderg, where he had the distinction of being the last sergeant in the village. The family lived in the garda station and the children attended the nearby national school. The last transfer was to Tuam in 1986, where Seamus was promoted to detective sergeant. Having left paid employment to look after her young children, Pauline returned to the workforce and held positions in Galway, in Pulse in Tuam and in Tuam Bookshop before joining the staff of The Tuam Herald on a part-time basis almost ten years ago. She co-ordinated local notes, and with her typical versatily was available to take on other duties as the need arose. During her time with the paper she impressed all who met her with her pleasant demeanour, good humour and wit, and with her colourful and sometimes flamboyant dress sense. Pauline's family life and work brought her into contact with many ­people, but it was her sporting life that extended her range of acquaintance and friendship far beyond that of most ­people who spent their whole lives in this area. She took up golf in Mountbellew in 1980, and she approached it as she did every other aspect of her life, with care and a desire to do it well. She took lessons and showed a natural talent for the game, and within seven years was elected Lady Captain of the Mountbellew club. Later, as a member of Tuam Golf Club, she played on many club teams and took on time-consuming tasks such as handicap secretary and tournament director before assuming the Lady Captaincy last year, a role she played with her customary dedication, zeal and good humour. Both Pauline and Seamus came from musical families, and while Seamus is a well known player of the concert flute, Pauline enjoyed set dancing and more recently took up sean-nós dancing. In earlier years she was also involved with local drama groups in Mountbellew and Tuam, and wherever she went she made friends who never forgot her. But golf was her great love and abiding interest. It was not just the game she enjoyed: it was the social life, the camaraderie, and the chance to travel to play on challenging courses and in interesting places, from Ireland to Portugal to Lanzarote. She was always conscious of healthy eating and exercise, which made her illness seem all the more unfair when it struck her. But a strong religious faith, and the invaluable support of family and friends, added to a tenacious character, helped her to bear her cross with dignity. It was in facing life's greatest challenge â€â€Ã‚  her final illness â€â€ that Pauline showed the true measure of her nobility and generosity of spirit. Those closest to her witnessed her total lack of anger or bitterness, and were inspired by her great acceptance. They bore witness to her caring yet practical concern for her family and their futures. Her wish was that all treasured possessions should continue to be used and give pleasure and joy to the living of life. Life was for living, living to the full and though she could no longer be part of it, life must go on. Her passing has left a void in the lives of all who knew her, but nowhere more so than in those of Seamus and her daughters Nolita, Karena and Paula, her son James and his partner Marie, her grandchilden Eadie and Jonah, sisters Josephine, Angela, Jean and Margaret and brother Michael and the extended family.