“A BRIGHT light has been extinguished” with the death of Ennis nurse Olivia Tuohy while double rainbows will always serve as a reminder of her warm and caring personality for her loving family.
Twenty five year old Olivia died while partaking in the Edinburgh Half Marathon two weeks ago.
Mourners came in their droves to Saturday’s funeral mass at SS Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ennis and to the Tuohy’s family home on the Tulla Rd across the week and for Friday evening’s reposal. For over half an hour following Saturday’s mass, people queued to sympathise with the family.
Olivia worked as a nurse in the vascular ward 105 of the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, having studied at Queen Margaret University. She had built up a wide circle of friends at home in Ireland and in her adopted home of Scotland.
Her loved ones led the warm and glowing tributes at the funeral mass. A former past pupil of Rice College, Olivia played ladies football and camogie with Banner Ladies before relocating to Scotland. She was also a junior player with Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club.
Sincere thanks were voiced by Olivia’s mother Liz to the medical professionals and runners who provided help on the day of the half marathon and to the personnel who offered support to the Tuohy family in the bereavement suite in Edinburgh. She acknowledged the kindess shown by the people of Clare in paying their respect. “We would not be standing here today without the unwavering love and support from both our families and friends, the warmth and acts of kindness has given us great support and comfort, for that we will be always truly and deeply grateful. Both our families would like to extend our deep appreciation to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust who ensured Olivia arrived home safely and to Kennedy Funeral Home for the help, kindness and support they have given us over the past two weeks, we will always be eternally grateful to you all”.
Liz explained that they will always think of Olivia when they see a rainbow given the bizarre coincidence that she and her son Stephen experienced on their separate journeys in the past fortnight. “We were in Dublin on our way to Edinburgh, we were near the airport and next thing my sister said ‘look at the rainbow’, there was this massive double rainbow, one of the widest and biggest I’ve ever seen, I remember saying ‘fly high baby girl’. The coincidence of it was when Laura and Stephen were leaving Vancouver, Stephen had never seen a double rainbow and next thing there was a double rainbow in Vancouver as well which is hard to believe. To friends and family, whenever ye see a rainbow think of Olivia because she will be flying high. Not gone from us, simply before us”.
Following this, ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ was sung in Ennis Cathedral.
According to Kieran there were many stories which could be told about his daughter. “Olivia had a short and beautiful life, if I was to tell you all the stories about Olivia and the stuff I didn’t know it might be like Tom Cruise and Mission Impossible. I was tasked with teaching Olivia how to drive so one day after parking at home after one lesson, as ye all know as parents and who taught someone, Olivia storms in home and the door bangs, followed in a close second I’m in behind her and the door bangs, then silence. ‘Well that went well’, Liz said, I replied ‘if you heard the way she spoke to me, would you speak to your driving instructor like that’, quick off the mark Olivia said ‘well my driving instructor would’t speak to me like that’ and I could see a tear in her eye, she was right, I apologised, we hugged and kissed, ‘tomorrow’ I said ‘there will be no more shouting and that is what happened’. Olivia passed first go, to everyone out there, thank you so much, to Olivia and her brother Stephen we love you so much”.
Close friends of Olivia brought forward symbols of her life with her friend Kiara outlining, “each one of us has our memories of Olivia and most of those memories are filled with kindness, fun, laughter and a determined strength. There is so many symbols which could represent Olivia and we have chosen just a few that summed up here up”.
A football and hurley was brought forward by Roisin, “this represents Olivia’s love of sport, her team spirit and her drive. Her love for sports will forever remain in our hearts, reminding us to play hard, love fiercely and embrace every moment”.
Colleagues of Olivia’s in the Royal Infirmary compiled a memory book, this was put at the top of the altar with her nursing uniform and badge by Chloe. “Kindness, dedication and warmth were the traits that Olivia possessed in abundance making her the dedicated nurse that she was”.
Shopping was a big passion for Olivia. “Olivia loved nothing more than a trip to Dunnes Stores shopping for clothes, she would load the basket with a collection of clothes, often returning half of them after returning home”. This is why the symbol of a shopping bag was presented by Nicole which “represents the many shopping trips with so many of us memories we will now treasure forever”.
There was widespread laughter as Rachel carried an Aperol Spritz glass with Olivia’s name on it. “Oliva loved having fun, creating time to laugh, enjoying good company and being surrounded by friends and family,” Kiara explained.
Family photos carried by Claire noted “the treasures of Olivia’s life. Family was so important to Olivia, the connections, the love, the fun and the simple things about family life, the essence of who Olivia was, special times are now the memories we all hold dear”.
Fr Ger Jones told the congregation, “I know for many the reality that Olivia is no longer here is still hard to get your head around, it is difficult to come to terms with the fact that someone so full of life, someone who was such an important part of your lives is gone and gone so suddenly. The fragile nature of life is something we can often ignore but when we are faced with sudden and unexpected death we are shaken to our very core, especially when someone like Olivia, someone who was such a positive presence for so many people is taken from us, it feels as though a bright light has been extinguished and yet that is the reality we face today as we gather to say goodbye.
“Even though her earthly life was short, she had a profound and lasting impact on so many people, anyone who ever met her was all the better for it, her kindness, her warmth, her sense of humour left an indelible impression on everyone. Her presence in this world was short but was a great blessing, she herself was blessed with so many talents that she used as a service for the good of others,” he said.
Cherish and document memories was the message echoed by Olivia’s brother Stephen as he recalled when the Tuohy family came to visit him in Canada with the persuasive nature of his sister coming to the fore in ensuring she stayed out longer than planned the night before flying home. “A friend recently reminded me of a moment that showed how close we are as a family but more so how Olivia had Dad wrapped around her fingers, Olivia, Mam, Dad and I were in a bar in Vancouver called Smith’s, an Irish bar in a place called Gastown, quite a sketchy area, it was pushing on 12 O’Clock which was late in Dad’s eyes but not Olivia’s, Dad had decided it was time to go home as Olivia was flying back to Edinburgh the following morning, Dad informed me that himself, Mam were going home and Olivia was to go with them, I tried to argue a case for Olivia but Dad wasn’t having it, I think the words he said to me at the end ‘I’ve spoken’ so I nodded but I told my Dad I wouldn’t be telling Olivia this, Dad seemed unfazed, meanwhile Olivia was down at the bar getting drinks for us completely unaware her night out was coming to an early close in Dad’s eyes.
“I decided to go down and help Olivia with the drinks and give her a heads up that Dad was adamant she was going home, Olivia didn’t believe me at first but then turned to me and said ‘don’t worry I’ll talk to home’. Olivia arrived back from the bar, gave out the drinks and sat down, that is when the fun started, Dad informed Olivia she was going home, Olivia responded by informing Dad that she was not, it went back and forth a few times, I have to leave a few things out because it’s not the right place to say what was said. Dad tried explaining it was a new country and a dangerous place to be out by yourself, not knowing where you were going, Olivia responded by saying this was nothing new to here with her many nights out in Edinburgh, Dad realised he was getting nowhere so he tried to play the guilt card asking Olivia would she come home please because it would make him feel happy and he’d appreciate it if she would listen to her old Dad, it backfired tremendously, Olivia told him to never blackmail her like that ever again and that she was staying out so Dad threw in the towel, a taxi was called for Mam and Dad and Olivia got her night out. One thing I’ve learned from this is whenever you are out, even with just your friends or family even if it is just out for a walk, take a photo because you might not have the person sitting beside you right now forever but you will have a photo which is a memory forever”.
Addressing mourners, Olivia’s boyfriend Michael admitted that they left “nothing unsaid” in their relationship. “I said I would talk from the heart and see what comes out. As you know one of my favourite activities is talking about Olivia. What we’ve been told over the last two weeks is there’s no words for what has happened but the big thing I want to say is thank you, firstly on behalf of all the people you met because you were such a kind, gorgeous, beautiful soul but mostly thank you from me because the love you brought into my life was sensational, we shared something which has been so hard to describe to people because it was so natural and we packed so much in during our time together.
“We left nothing unsaid and that is true, we weren’t together for nearly long enough or as long as we’d planned but we were going the right way, I knew exactly that it was a gold band to buy you not a silver band because you didn’t wear silver, you knew I wanted the biggest wedding possible so I could speak to you in front of as many people and I used to say ‘my wedding speech’ and you reminded me it was ‘our wedding’. I also knew your priorities, her main priority was a fancy coffee machine, she bought her Mam and Dad one but it was basically her toy to come home and play with, there’s so many memories I don’t need to go into them, I just need you to know that I love you, I’ll miss you and I need you to know darling I’m going to be okay because this week I realised I now have a second family to look after me and we’ve got on so well which is what you always wanted so please don’t worry about me”.
Olivia is survived by her heart broken parents Kieran and Liz and her brother Stephen and his partner Laura, her loving partner Michael and his parents Maria-Elena and Steven, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbours and her friends both in Ireland and Edinburgh.
