Lena Corrigan was highly regarded in Enniskillen for her role as a businesswoman alongside her late husband, Eugene.
Born Lena McCauley in April 1932 to Henry and Ellen McCauley in the townland of Enaghan, Monea, she was the eldest of seven children.
She grew up in a tight-knit family within a very tight-knit community, bound by love, care and support. This love extended down the generations to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She attended Mount Lourdes Grammar School, travelling from Monea to Enniskillen on her bicycle with friend Sheila Gillen, and faced an infamous uphill cycle home, especially in winter.
These qualities of hard work, resilience and bettering herself would serve her well in her working and personal life.
She met her husband, Eugene Corrigan from Mullaghdun, whilst working in Cassidy’s Bus Services and they were married in 1955 in Monea.
They welcomed three children to the family: sons Maurice and Eugene, and daughter Helen.
They were a devoted couple and opened their shoe shop on St Patrick’s Day 1959. The business later expanded to include Step ‘n Style.
She loved the shoe shop, taking great pride in how everything was displayed, but it was the social interaction that she enjoyed the most - getting to know customers and their families.
With their neighbours, the O’Doherty, McHugh and Hughes families, they experienced a strong sense of community and formed bonds of friendship that have lasted a lifetime.
Lena was always prepared to get out there, to involve herself in activities that brought people together.
In 1965 she was asked to join the Fermanagh Feis committee by the late Fr Paddy Marron. It was the beginning of a lifelong love and association, holding the role of president for many years.
She was immensely proud of her family’s participation in the feis and their love of Irish music, song and language.
Her interests extended into other groups: she was a member of Enniskillen and District Soroptimist Club, St Joseph’s Young Priests Society and the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association.
Her funeral Mass was celebrated on August 21 by good friend Fr Raymond Donnelly in St Michael’s Church Enniskillen, a spiritual home to Lena for over 70 years.
Faith was a central part of her life through daily Mass, the rosary and pilgrimages to Knock Shrine.
The Mass was a joyous celebration of her life, a fitting tribute to a woman who treasured the joys that life could bring and lived life to the full. Ní bheidh a leithéad arís ann.
Lena Corrigan was predeceased by her husband Eugene, her daughter Helen Lynam, and her siblings Harry McCauley and Rita Maguire.
She is survived by her sons Eugene (Geraldine) and Maurice (Berna); daughter-in-law Rosaleen, son-in-law Barry; her grandchildren Sinéad (Patsy), Maeve (Eoin), Eoghan, Ellen, Thomas, Fearghal, Deirbhile and Domhnall; and great-grandchildren Caoimhe and Michael.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.