Reflections on our mother Joan
Mammy, Mam, Ma, Mum, Mom, Joan, Joan Allen, Joan Ryan, Mrs Allen, Auntie Joan, Mother
Joan Ryan - daughter of Eileen and Michael. Her inheritance is industrious Tralee & Waterford shopkeeping, hard working civil service and a direct connection to the fight for Irish freedom.
Joan - sister of Deirdre, Michael and Declan - not forgetting Elizabeth the lost child and namesake of an aunt, victim to the civil war. A family of collectors, readers and radio listeners.
Joan - native of Crumlin, a Loreto girl growing up in 40s, 50s and 60s Dublin. She loves reading, hollywood movies, dancing, musicals, Sissi the Austrian Empress and gets involved with a musical society. Many friends from this time are still friends today.
Joan - wife of John. They meet while performing in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado, their happy relationship comes together during Iolanthe. Music fills the rest of their lives as Joan and John work together on many musicals; sharing late nights, dramatic moments and life events with many dear friends. Joan listens to all of John’s radio broadcasts; his greatest fan and loudest critic. They are together for 51 years; a marriage of devotion, dedication and deep love.
Joan - mother of John, Catherine and Jennifer. They may not be angelic but they are the loves of her life bringing fun, pain, joy and perhaps some exasperation. She’s sometime angry (think wooden spoons), always generous (cakes when we get home from school), selfless (those lifts into town for music lessons) and endlessly loving (there are too many forgiven misdemeanors to be mentioned).
Joan - a woman in her own right. Witty, intellectual, well-read with a love of popular culture and a skeptic with a healthy disregard for hyperbole. Whether it’s everything written by Dickens or the latest episode of Gogglebox she knows her stuff. A dedicated friend of Alice, Eithne, Mary and many others. Joan lives all her married live in Swords happily surrounded by caring neighbours. She loves antiques, tea sets and has a fondness for sweet things and creamy coffee. She completes a degree in History all the while keeping a thriving garden. A social introvert who loves the company of others and embraces all her children’s friends creating a place of safety, warmth and generosity.
Joan - a resilient survivor. Live has thrown her some terrible physical afflictions but she fights through and does not give up.
Joan Allen - daughter, sister, aunt, friend, wife and mother. She was wise, witty and wonderful.
We love her deeply and will always miss her.