My Dearest Friend Ducksie - R I P

[je-reviens]

It is with profound sadness and grief I announce the death this week of my dearest friend ducksie (aka headwreck). We first met on AB many years ago and a wonderful, close friendship developed. I visited her in Ireland many times (though sadly not since lockdown) and we had such marvelous times together. We enjoyed chatting on Skype most days and evenings. ducksie would introduce me to her family, friends and neighbours and they all welcomed me into their lives. It was so easy to fall in love with the Irish people and their beautiful country. I would drive ducksie on mystery tours - they didn't start out as such but she was not the greatest navigator - nevertheless, we always had great fun together.

Never have I known anyone who was so gentle, compassionate, caring, kind, supportive, generous and brave as was this lady. She cared for her dear, adored mother through cancer, heart problems and finally dementia. She loved all her family (5 sisters and 5 brothers) and their children. ducksie was a very respected member of her community and looked out for her neighbours and friends. She also looked out for me all the while and her never-ending support saw me through operations and cancer. She undertook charitable work such as sponsored walks and helping to feed the homeless. A devout Catholic who had been a pilgrim to both Knock and Lourdes.

An educated lady, whose first language was Irish, and very proud of her Irish ancestry. She was fantastic at recalling historical events and dates. Some of her other loves were crosswords (the doyenne of RTE on AB), and swimming. ducksie could out-swim a mermaid and found it the best therapy when she needed a boost and had the energy to swim. I was in awe of her ability to solve crosswords in English which was her second language.

All the time I knew ducksie she endured failing health and was in pain every day though she carried on regardless keeping her lovely home clean, the garden was always tidy - it brought her so much joy - and she did her own shopping and cooking. Somehow, she managed it all in her indefatigable way and with great humour. ducksie suffered cancer twice, a heart attack, asthma, diabetes and cancer again. How she managed to beat cancer 3 times is almost beyond my comprehension, but I witnessed at first hand her absolute faith, fortitude and strength of character to survive. Through all these medical issues, ducksie was served so very well by her G.P. , his colleagues, local nurses as well as the hospitals she was admitted to in Kilkenny, Dublin and Waterford. ducksie's exemplary and amazing Public Health Nurse, Trish, would visit her at home, sometimes more than was scheduled, to keep the most professional eye on her progress. Suddenly a fourth cancer was identified and despite the efforts of all those wonderful people ducksie was given a prognosis for her final stage. However, she told me she was relieved and that a weight had been taken off her. I last spoke to ducksie just a few hours before she peacefully passed away, in hospital. 

I cannot express fully how proud I am to have ducksie in my life. Now I have such beautiful memories, photographs, letters and personal gifts. Because of my failing health I could not visit her near the end of her life nor attend her funeral although I did see the live stream of it. Her death leaves a huge void in my life until we meet again. ttfn ♥



 

 

 

[je-reviens]

Ed, can you please make this thread a "stickie" tia.

[Hopkirk]

What a lovely tribute. It seems to me she was extremely lucky to have you as a friend.

[sunny-dave]

Condolences from me and gness - we met ducksie once (a good few years ago now) and had a good afternoon of craic and tea and cake. A grand tribute from je-reviens.

Dave

[pastafreak]

Thank you for posting this...I'd noticed ducksies absence from AB but people are always coming and going. Ducksie was a bright spark on here, and shall be missed. R. I. P. 

[Ellipsis]

Condolences, and what a wonderful eulogy, je-reviens, thank you for sharing it ...

[Rosetta]

What a lovely tribute, she was obviously a lovely lady, much loved by friends and family. RIP ducksie

[seekeerz]

So very sad to hear that Ducksie has passed away, she was a long time stalwart of the K M Links game and will be greatly missed....a lovely lady.

[Lie-in King]

Such sad news, my sincere condolences.  Ducksie always struck me as a lovely lady & she'll be missed. RIP x

[jennyjoan]

Loved her for being herself. So sorry to hear of this

[wolf63]

Thank you for posting this.

She was lovely and bubbly and her church was close to her heart.

She will be missed!

[Sam1960]

What a lovely tribute.

My sincerest condolences to ducksie's family and friends.

 

RIP  ducksie  x

[jno]

very sorry to hear this. A wonderful tribute, thank you.

[Toorak]

I am so sorry to hear this - she came across as a lovely person.

Thank you for the heartfelt tribute.

 

[Arksided]

Sorry to read about this sad news, nice to know you were there for each other. My condolences to yourself, family and friends.

[Karamia]

So sorry to hear such sad news.

What a wonderful tribute.

RIP Ducksie

[rowanwitch]

Nice tribute,  she sounds politely lovely and you were lucky to have known one another,  RIP

[barry1010]

Very sad to hear this.

[Captain2]

Such a lovely tribute. Ducksie came across as such a lovely lady on here. Glad you had some time together.

Who are we going to turn to now for confirmation of those pesky RTE clues?

R.I.P.

[newmodarmy]

I don't think I ever came across ducksie on Answerbank but it seems from the tributes herthat at she was a lovely person who made a big contribution to the site. Thank you for the very moving tribute je reviens.

[MargoTester]

Very sad news about Ducksie she seemed like a lovely lady. Thank you for your wonderful tribute.