Noel gave years of faithful service
NOEL Maginn of 28 Drumnamoe Avenue, died peacefully in Craigavon Area Hospital on Friday, April 3.
Noel spent his entire life in Lurgan. He was best known in the town and surrounding areas for the many years he spent working in McConville’s Chemist, later McKeagney’s in Edward Street.
Noel finally retired in 2002 after sixty years of faithful service. During these years he came to be known and trusted by customers from all parts of the town.
They experienced his unfailing kindness and courtesy at first hand. They also came to rely on his vast knowledge of all things pharmaceutical, gleaned over many years at the dispensary bench and at the customer counter.
Noel believed in the maxim: the customer is always right. He applied it with charm and a winning smile throughout his long working career. The shop in Edward Street was more than just a job to Noel. It was, in a very real sense, Noel’s vocation providing him with daily opportunities to help and to reassure his customers in whatever ways he could.
Noel loved the shop but he loved his family more. Noel married Marie Magill of Cornakinnegar on September 22. 1954 in St Peter’s Church. They enjoyed almost 55 years of married life together. Noel is survived by Marie, by his children Michael, Sinead, Una, Fionnuala, Niall, Diarmuid, Caitriona and Ruairi, by his 23 grandchildren and by a wide family circle.
Noel was the son of James and Catherine Maginn, nee Murray of 46 Edward Street. James was a bootmaker by trade and ran his business for many years from the family home. Noel is also survived by his brother Maurice of Prospect Way.
Noel attended St Peter’s School and the Sisters of Mercy Technical School. He was a great lover of books and an avid reader right up until the time of his unexpected death. Noel also enjoyed dancing and listening to music, especially classical music.
In his youth he enjoyed walking, a game of putting in Lurgan Park and playing billiards in the old LCA. He served as a steward for a number of years at many memorable productions of the Lurgan Operatic Society in Lurgan Town Hall.
He was also heavily involved in the life of his parish of St Peter’s. In his younger days, he was an altar server and an active member of the local Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society.
In more recent times Noel served in St Peter’s both as a reader and as a Special Minister of the Eucharist. At the time of his death he was President of the St Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society which prays for vocations to the priesthood and religious life and which also raises funds for the education of priests both at home and abroad.
Noel enjoyed holidays in Ireland, Scotland, England, Europe and North America. Rossnowlagh, however, was probably Noel’s favourite holiday destination. Along with Marie and the family and later their growing numbers of grandchildren, Noel spent many happy summer days in that beautiful part of south west Donegal. He was there in March of this year for what turned out to be his final visit.
Until recently, he and Marie went to Lourdes practically every year with the Dromore Diocesan Pilgrimage. The annual pilgrimage to Lourdes was something Noel enjoyed and looked forward to very much.
Noel died as he had lived, peacefully and with quiet dignity, surrounded by his beloved family. His funeral Mass was celebrated in St Paul’s Church, Lurgan on Palm Sunday. He is buried in St Colman’s Cemetery. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
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Weather for Lurgan
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
