Anyone who encountered Patricia Stitt was agreed: she was a true “one-off”.
Tricia was the heart and soul of the close-knit Carrick Hill community in north Belfast, involved in every activity and there at the drop of a hat to help anyone in need.
Whether cleaning the community centre, dressing up with the children, running errands for the elderly, or reaching out to the homeless in the city centre, she was always busy and always ready to share a joke or smile.
Her sudden death aged 57 came as a huge shock to her family and the many friends she had made across the city.
The fourth of 10 children of Joseph and Eileen Stitt, Patricia was brought as a young child from Beechmount bungalows to the newly-built Unity Flats in the Carrick Hill district near the city centre, where her mother was from.
Built in 1968, the flats suffered from many of the problems of concrete buildings of that era and would be demolished two decades later, but as a child Trisha enjoyed life on the landings, being able to run with friends in and out of each other’s homes.
She was educated at St Patrick’s PS and Little Flower secondary school and spent some time in her late teens in Blackpool.
On returning home, she worked for most of her life in cleaning jobs, including at motor shows around Europe where she always loved to meet the invited celebrities.
In Geneva she met Arnold Schwarzenegger – walking straight up to him and announcing ‘It’s Trish from Belfast’ – while Eric Cantona was another favourite.
In recent years she was employed by Minster Cleaning and was a much-loved figure in the old Irish News offices in Donegall Street as well as several other city centre buildings.
As well as a meticulous worker, she enjoyed the craic with colleagues and staff and was not averse to the odd practical joke, like a fake spider on a desk.
Frank Dempsey of Carrick Hill Residents’ Association said she also lent her skills to keep its facilities spick and span – although it was a case of trying to stop her cleaning, rather than asking for any help.
“Trisha was one of the most amenable people you could ever meet. No matter what you asked, it was not a problem,” he said.
“She would have run anywhere for the elderly and she was here every Christmas, Easter or summer holidays with the kids.
“She was just a really good person who will be very sadly missed.”
A mother of two boys, Christopher and Jordan, as well as doting grandmother-of-two, Trisha loved to play bingo in her spare time.
Her death from an aneurysm on August 30 came with many years still left to live and give, and the large crowd of mourners at her funeral at St Patrick’s Church, Donegall Street worse bright colours in her memory to reflect her vibrant personality.
Her month’s mind Mass will be celebrated in St Patrick’s Church at 6pm tomorrow.