'Sadly my husband died on what was to be our last holiday'

'Sadly my husband died on what was to be our last holiday'

Avril Patterson recalls the death of her husband when she was only 39.

Avril Patterson

Trinity College Dublin

1971

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Avril Patterson

Marriage and Family

Life Story

Ballyshannon,Co. Donegal

1970's

In 1965 my husband Tom took his first heart attack,Pamela was only 4 years old. This was a very difficult time for me.A family,belonging to the church which we attended,came for my daughter every Sunday for Sunday school. The church is Rosemary Street 1st Presbyterian Church in Belfast.This is the church my husband's family all belonged to,I as unable to attend at that time. The first church was built in 1644. The present church opened in 1786.My husband's health was poorly although we went on small holidays to Butlins in the South of Ireland and Scotland. We enjoyed going to Westport House in the West of Ireland. That year we went with my brother and his family.Sadly my husband died on what was to be our last holiday.Myself,my husband,Pamela and Pamela's cousin Lorraine arrived in Ballyshannon for what was to be 2 weeks leave at Rossnowlagh.On the 17th July 1971 my husband passed away in Ballyshannon Country Hospital having taken ill during the previous night. The people on the caravan site were a great help to me,also the nurses in the hospital.This is extremely difficult and sad time to remember. As when we returned back to the shop at home the troubles in Belfast were at their height. Bombings,hi-jackings and violence occurred on a daily basis on the streets of Belfast.Running the shop was no longer possible for a woman on her own in a country divided by conflict.Pamela and myself went to live in what used to be my mother's old house in Edinburgh Street off the Lisburn Road. This was within walking distance of Pamela's school. I was faced with no job. I wrote to local hospitals,Mugrave Park,Belfast City and the Royal Victoria and was offered employment by them all.The Royal Victoria Hospital was the first to offer me a position for which I accepted. This was a turning point for me for I had peace of mind,my own little home,no worries about the shop or ill health and I had a regular income.I missed my husband dearly,he was older than me,he was a very good husband. Tom attended Belfast Royal Academical Institution and had a great knowledge of literature,poetry and the arts. Our married life had been difficult but we had a deep love and understanding of each other.I was 39 years old when I was left a widow and Pamela was 10 years.

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Irish Research Council for Arts,Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)