A funeral service for the much-loved local was held at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Berry, which was filled with friends and family, on Thursday, February 13.

St Michael’s Parish Father Patrick Faherty remembered Mrs McGee as a friendly, giving person who did her utmost for the community in all aspects.

“She was the essence of what it is to be a good neighbour,” he said.

“Berry was a very close community when she was younger – a rural, dairy community where people knew each other very well and she epitomised what being a good neighbour was all about.

“She was a quiet lady, very compassionate and jovial.”

Father Faherty said Mrs McGee had a great involvement in the school where she taught music for more than 25 years.

“She mainly played the piano and organ and was the church organist for over 60 years,” he said.

“She was always close to the priests at the parish and one of her main interests was the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

“She purchased and reconstructed the Tom McGee Holiday Homes in memory of her husband, who died in the 1970s, which would accommodate up to 300 people annually with various needs.”

When Mrs McGee’s family came to Berry in 1940 she involved herself fully in the community around her. After she married at the Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in 1946 she became one of the first women to be involved in Berry Council for eight years before it closed.

She was also remembered for her exquisite handwriting and for 20 years helped the Berry Show Society with all the ticket detailing for agricultural shows before computers were used for their printing.

In more recent years Mrs McGee continued her community involvement with her work with the Berry Historical Society even through ill-health.

“She still managed to come to church every Sunday despite her age,” Father Faherty said.