Tributes have been paid to a “loving and caring” school teacher who lost a brave and selfless battle with cancer earlier today (Friday).
Marie McGuckin (nee McCormack), had close affinity with St Patrick’s High in Keady – one of the first schools at which she taught. Her sister-in-law Glennis stills teaches at the school.
Marie was a hugely popular Geography teacher , whose warmth and smile, will be fondly remember by the staff and pupils she taught in her short years at the school.
Marie, from Ballinderry, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of Patrick and much loved mother of Michael and Catherine.
She was the loving daughter of Colm and Mary and sister of Elaine (Mullin), Siobhan (Quinn), Catherine, Roisin and Eugene. Daughter-in-law of Mick and Margeurite and sister-in-law of Glennis, Cathy, Brian, John, Joseph and Karl.
St Patrick’s College in Maghera posted their condolences to Marie, who was their current Head of Geography.
“The College this afternoon learned with deep regret of the death of Mrs Marie McGuckin – Head of Geography, esteemed colleague and friend,” the post read.
“We join as a College community to offer our sincere condolences to her husband, Paddy, her children Michael and Catherine and the wider McGuckin and McCormack families.
“She will be very sorely missed by staff and pupils. We are heartbroken. May she rest in peace. St Patrick, pray for her.”
Edendork GAC, a club on the outskirts of Dungannon, where Marie’s in-laws hail from, posted their own heartfelt tribute to a “a devoted mother” and “a friend to many of us”.
“As a Club and a community we are at our best when we are together. We share the good times, births, weddings, we meet at the school, at mass, we meet at training, at matches, some we win, some we nearly win. We come together too when times are bad, when things are tough and when some of us are in trouble.
“We are together this evening. We are together in grief, in sadness, in sympathy and in our thoughts and in our prayers.
“Marie McGuckin passed away today at lunchtime. She was at home thank God, surrounded by her loving family.
“We offer to her beloved husband Patrick and her darling children Michael and Catherine our most sincere and heartfelt condolences.
“To Marie’s parents Colm and Mary, to her sisters Catherine, Siobhan, Elaine and Roisin as well her brother Eugene, her nieces and nephews, we tender our deepest sympathies.
“The loss of Marie will be felt sorely by Mick and Marguerite and we assure them that they will have our full support and be in our thoughts and prayers in the time ahead.
“To Glennis, Cathy, Brian, John, Joe and Karl and their families, we offer to them our support and condolences.
“Marie was a lovely caring girl. She was modest and humble. She was unwavering in her support for Paddy during his own illness. Above all she was a devoted Mother.
“As a teacher in St Patrick’s Maghera, Marie was hugely respected. She will be sorely missed by the teachers there as well as the pupils and her form class in particular who she was still in contact with.
“Marie bore her illness with incredible strength. Towards the end her thoughts were only of her husband and her children as well as her family and how she could help them deal with the time ahead.
“Marie was a friend to many of us. Some of us never met her. That doesn’t matter. Tonight, together, we are all thinking of Marie and her family. A Naomh Maolmhaodhóg guigh uirthi.”
Ballinderry shamrocks GAC paid tributes to “a very special, loyal and kind-hearted member who supported us in every way she could”.
Posting on social media, the Club said: “She took great joy out of the involvement of her husband Patrick (youth coach), her son Michael (youth footballer) and her daughter Catherine (youth camog and ladies footballer).
“To those three we offer our sincere condolences and support over the coming days. Sympathy also to her parents Mary and Colm McCormack (Carrickmore) and Patrick’s parents Mick and Marguerite, her sisters and brother, and indeed to the entire McGuckin and McCormack family circle.”
Marie will repose at her family home , 75 Ballinderry Bridge Rd, Cookstown, note family time Sunday 10pm – 10 am.
Funeral from there on Monday, May 16 at 11am for 12 noon Requiem Mass in St Patricks Church Ballinderry, burial in adjacent cemetery . Mass can also be viewed via parish webcam. Please note church is limited to family only.
Family flowers only, donations in lieu to Marie Curie – www.mariecurie.org.uk
From all at Armagh I – and to a former teacher of which this author has fond memories 0f – we send our heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved Marie. May she Rest in Peace.
