Loughinisland woman ‘was friend to all’

Loughinisland woman ‘was friend to all’

6 May 2020

THE artist son of a Loughinisland woman who has died has said his mother was his “biggest fan”.

Sixty-four year-old Mrs Kate Sloan was buried in St Macartan’s New Cemetery in Loughinisland on Saturday. She passed away the previous day at the Marie Curie Hospice in Belfast.

Mrs Sloan’s family were unable to visit her in the hospice due to the Covid-19 restrictions, but they did their best to support and comfort her remotely by appearing at her bedroom window whenever possible.

Mrs Sloan had cancer of the thyroid and while she was unable to eat or speak, her family said it did not stop her “personality shining through”.

Her son, Aidan, raffled off one of his original paintings to raise money for the hospice as his way of thanking them for their care of his mother.

Describing his mother as “a friend to all”, Mr Sloan said: “My mum was the biggest fan of my art and she spoke about it in every conversation that she could. Even when her voice was taken from her by her illness last August, she still managed to bring up my work in all her written conversations.

“Even when she was dealing with her cancer diagnosis, at each meeting, with each new medical professional she met she gave them a business card and told them about my art.

She beamed with pride every time I produced a new painting, and no matter how weak and tired she was she still shared every Facebook post of my art.”

Mr Sloan said that his family would remember his mother someone who would make friends wherever she went.

“Everyone who met her could see the beautiful, caring and loving person she was — from those she cared for as a childminder, teaching assistant, community care worker and a bus escort for children with disabilities, to her friends and family and then those who ended up caring for her.

“A good natured and fun-loving person, it was hard not to be attracted to my mum’s warmth and passion.

“She had the unique ability to make friends everywhere she went. And although recently her voice was taken from her by the cruel illness she fought so bravely, her kind and loving personality, her fun and spirited nature and her warmth still shone through and touched everyone who grew to know her, even the health care workers over the past 10 months.”

Mr Sloan is urging the public to continue to support hospices during as the lockdown.

Mrs Sloan is also survived by Paddy, her husband of 35 years, daughter Roisin, son-in-law Michael, daughter-in-law Dearbhla, grandchildren Ethan, Chloe, Rioghnach, Hannah, Fiadh and Síne, sisters Geraldine and Elish (Chicago) and brothers Damien and Des.

To support Marie Curie donate online at mariecurie.org.uk/emergency or text NURSE to 70633 to help us reach the families who need us.?Texts cost £5 plus 1 standard rate message.

If you, or someone you know, are affected by a terminal illness, and concerned about coronavirus, call free 0800 090 2309 to the Marie Curie helpline. You can also find more information at mariecurie.org.uk/coronavirus.