Helen Benson 1933 – 2023

This (deeply loved) special Lady has sailed.

Eulogy, read by Niall Benson

First Off, a huge thank you to everyone for the incredible outpouring of condolences and wishes. It is overwhelming, in a positive way of course. As devastated as bereavement can be we have also come to realise how incredibly lucky, grateful and blessed for Mam’s powerful and loving presence in our lives. 

Mam’s passing will leave a huge void in all of our lives but also flooding in to fill this void is a tidal wave of incredible memories of gathering, meeting, reunions, meals and pure joy, happiness, laughter and sometime unbelievable joyous racket under the double fluorescent lights in the ‘forever’ welcoming kitchen in O’Dwyer’s Villas, Thomondgate

We will celebrate this incredible life, a fiercely independent and faithful woman, mother, listener and confidant and a life of caring, sharing and giving (and feeding). From her gifted fingers that crafted so many wedding creations, communion and confirmation rig-outs and altered so much of our garments as we and all our families expanded, including waistlines and children grew tall.

The group photograph at the back of the mass booklet ( and below) is the best witness to Mam’s journey of love, motherhood and devotion.

Mam’s faith was central to her life and a deep devotion to Padre Pio. There is a line in a Padre Pio prayer, “Love moved you to care for the sick, to attract sinners, to be forgiving and to deeply live the mystery of the Eucharist”, so reflects Mam (Helen’s) faith. The large candle in the kitchen under Padre Pio’s picture with many, many, many prayers and intercessions scribbled on pieces of paper and placed carefully there has been part of all of our conversations with Mam. Not just immediate family but the huge circle extended family and friends have been lucky to hear, “I’ll light a candle and say a prayer to Padre Pio”

On Mam’s wishes please say a prayer for her soul and her journey to be reunited with Cyril, Nellie, Patrick T and all her brothers and sister who have gone on ahead and with whom she has been beautifully embraced.

St. Munchin’s Church was fittingly packed on Tuesday 10th. January 2023 to see Helen off. Nothing would have made her more happy but to see such a special place of worship filled and being celebrated by Cannon Donal McNamara. Perfect Day.

A ship sails and I stand watching ‘til she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says she is gone”, Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large as when I saw her. The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me, not in her. And just at that moment when someone at my side says “She is gone” there are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout, “Here she comes”. And that is dying. ( a contribution from a friend)

Helen, A tomboy at heart who raced around O’Dwyer Villas barefoot racing all challengers. Losing her Dad, Patrick T, at a very young age she watched her own Mam, Nellie Conlan, a milliner and very young widow working relentlessly in really tough circumstances to raise boys (RIP. Alan, Dessie, Jimmy) and two girls  (RIP Marion and Helen, a third sister Anne, died very young).

Helen, herself went on to become a gifted and magnificent seamstress working for Danus and also from home making her children’s clothes. But also so many incredible wedding, communion, debs and formal gowns were created late into the night (Mid-night oil was always being burnt in at No.58, a trait that has been passed down to too many of her children and even grandchildren)

Then there was Kilkee. A place of refuge for well deserve Summer Holiday’s graduation from Day’ trips, to famous camping holidays, to renting Holiday homes and the nirvana of their own mobile home that was retired when Helen’s beloved Cyril went to his eternal rest.