An 89-year-old woman who was found murdered in her home in Co Tipperary last Sunday has been remembered at her funeral as a “remarkable lady” who brought “light, laughter and love” into the lives of all she knew.
The body of mother-of-five Josephine (Josie) Ray was discovered by a family member in a bedroom at her two-storey terraced house in St Joseph’s Park in Nenagh on Sunday afternoon. It is understood that she died by asphyxiation.
Originally from the small village of Carney, Co Tipperary, Josie was affectionately known as the “Carney Blonde” due to her love of fashion and glamour.
Her granddaughter, Rosie, told mourners at St Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh on Friday that her ‘Nanny’ loved dressing up. She said Josie embraced all that life had to offer.
“My nanny Josie, as we all knew her, was a lady. She loved her style. Always in glitter. She loved her jewellery. She was a great woman for glamour.
“She was some woman for dancing and anything that was on in town she would be at it with my mother Sarah. Always up for a laugh and a dance.
“She had a great heart. She always said to me ‘Rosie, I will never forget you for doing that.’
“Just the little things I would do for her like going to the shop and making cups of tea. She really appreciated everything.”
Her granddaughter said Josie always made time for her loved ones, friends and neighbours.
“She loved going down town for hours with my Mam. Looking in the shops and getting a bit of grub in the High B. She loved their dinners. She started going to the day care centre lately. She loved it. Everyone was so nice and kind to her.
“She made great friends. She loved all the company she had up there. Loved getting her hair and nails done too.
“She had great time for everyone that knew her. She is a park legend. All who knew her from the park will always remember her. I will miss her. Josie you were one of a kind. A true lady. We will all love you always.”
Meanwhile, Fr Pat Gilbert said the “shared grief” for Josie runs “deep and raw.”
“We are stunned, bewildered and heartbroken by the sudden and tragic passing of Josie.
“Josie Ray was a woman of remarkable presence, well known throughout Nenagh, especially in St Joseph’s Park.
“Her glamorous style, blonde hair that was as much a part of her identity as her radiant smile made her a beacon in this town and community.
“Walking through the streets often with her beloved daughters by her side, Josie would stop to chat, her warmth drawing people in like a magnet. Josie was lively, likeable and utterly loveable.”
Fr Gilbert said Josie was a “true character” who left “an indelible mark” on everyone she met.
“Josie had a great heart, one that was always open to others. She had time for people, time for the chat, for the small moments that often make life so meaningful.
“Whether it was a quick word at the shop, a long conversation over a cup of tea or simply a shared laugh, Josie made those around her feel valued and loved.
“She was a great neighbour, a true friend, and a cornerstone to this close-knit community.
“She was devoted to family, raising her family with love and care in St Joseph’s Park. Her children Mary, Frances, Mary and Carmel, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren were her pride and joy, the lights of her life.
“The bond she shared with them was unbreakable and her love for them was evident in everything she did.
“Josie embraced life with both hands and she lived it with a vigour and a passion that is truly inspiring”.
The funeral concluded with a rendition of Goodbye Venice Goodbye by Joe Dolan. Mrs Ray was buried in Killodiernan Graveyard in Puckane, Co Tipperary. She was predeceased by her husband, Paddy, and their daughter, Joan O’Brien.
