Obituary: Remembering beloved Waterford nurse Mary Cunningham

It is with deep regret that we record the death of Mrs Mary Cunningham, John’s Hill and formerly of Gracedieu, Waterford.

In her 92nd year, Mrs Cunningham passed away at Waterford Residential Care Centre (St Patrick’s Hospital) on Tuesday, July 23 of this year.

A quiet, dignified woman who carried her style and achievements lightly, Mrs Cunningham was educated at Cappoquin National School and The Mercy Secondary Boarding School, New Ross.

She later trained and qualified as a nurse at the Waterford County and City Infirmary, graduating in 1957.

She then spent a year nursing at St Patrick’s Hospital, John’s Hill, where she also underwent specialist training in the control and care of infectious diseases and in the nursing of TB patients. On completion, she took up an appointment at Ardkeen Hospital where she remained until her marriage.

Following her years as a loving home-maker and rearing her young children, Mrs Cunningham returned to Waterford Regional Hospital where she specialised mainly in paediatric and orthopaedic care until her retirement.

As a nurse, she was noted for her care, kindness and compassion, and a person who went beyond the call of duty. 

Consequently, she could never walk through the city without being constantly and affectionately hailed in the street by grateful patients she had nursed down through the years.

Very much a people’s person, she was also a volunteer for The Samaritans, The Wheelchair Association and the County and City Infirmary Fundraising Committee. Also, as a volunteer, she accompanied many Diocesan Pilgrimages to Lourdes.

Following her retirement, Mrs Cunningham and her friends, Pauline O’Neill, Cissie Bowe and Patricia Bowe spent many years visiting patients in nursing homes in the Waterford area, many of whom would have had no visitors were it not for their kindness and dedication. Patricia was the willing driver every week.

It was as a student nurse at the County and City Infirmary that Mary Fraher met her husband-to-be, Bryan Cunningham.

She was nursing Bryan’s uncle, Charlie Cunningham, who was so impressed with her that he sent word to his nephew that he wanted him to come visit him in the hospital where he would introduce him to ‘a lovely young nurse.’ Charlie’s efforts as a matchmaker were to prove successful.

As she raised her family, Mrs Cunningham also found time for other passions in her life. She loved horse-racing and the fortunes of the Waterford and Cappoquin hurlers were forever in her thoughts and prayers.

Like so many other fans, she longed for another senior All-Ireland victory. She was also an avid gardener and could coax growth where others failed!

Mrs Cunningham was a lifelong and stalwart supporter of the Fine Gael party. She tramped the highways and byways as a dedicated canvasser at election times and, at election counts, she was a constant fixture pouring over the figures until every seat was filled.

Politics was often a contentious and touchy subject during her times but she never fell out with anybody and was well liked and respected by supporters of all parties and none.

Mrs Cunningham loved to travel and well into her 80s was a regular visitor to her daughter, Trish, who lives in Windsor. The fact that Trish lives just seven miles from Ascot Racecourse was an added bonus and her mother rarely missed Royal Ascot Week.

Present at Mrs Cunningham's Requiem Mass were representatives of the city and county’s business, sporting, political, cultural and medical sectors.

Daughter of the late Edward and Esther Fraher, Undertakers and Shopkeepers, Church Street, Cappoquin, she was predeceased by her husband, Bryan, and her brother, Kevin Fraher. 

Mrs Cunningham is survived by her children, Danny, Waterford and Riyadh; Mary Patricia (Trish) Windsor, Berkshire; David, Grange Park Road, Waterford; Ismay, Butlerstown and her youngest son, Stafford, London. Her seven grandchildren, Ross, Sarah, Loui, Sally, Emma, Bryan and Tara; her sister, Patricia O’Connor, Cappoquin; daughter-in-law, Elaine; sons-in-law, Cormac and Philip; nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.