Late Sonny Hickey
Friends on both sides of the Irish Sea were saddened to learn of the demise of Johnny (Sonny) Hickey, Tramore Heights, Tramore and formerly of Stradbally and London. All who were indeed privileged to make his acquaintance paid their final respects at the removal from St Patrick’s Hospital, Waterford to Holy Cross Church, Tramore and at Requiem Mass prior to interment in the adjoin cemetery, testifying to the esteem and high regard in which Sonny and his family are held.
Monsignor John Shine said that they were there to say farewell to Sonny and pray that God would give him the welcome he deserved and credit for all the good he did when he was alive. We prayed also for those who belonged to him the most and who will miss him the most, and who were fortunate enough to know him well and share much happiness down the years. “You have crossed the barren desert” could best describe where we leave and where we arrive to see the face of God and live, “whoever believes in Me will never die. Our faith and our hope is, as it said in an old song “one day we shall meet again”. Sonny believed that the sadness of parting was only a temporary thing which may have been beyond our comprehension but not our believing in an afterlife. To god we are all alive as outlined in the Gregorian Chant and the sung Introit of the Mass, “King to all who are alive”, the opening prayer at funerals down the may decades. Sonny had been living here for almost a quarter of a century after working for London Transport for forty years. Before emigrating he had been reared in Stradbally in the heart of County Waterford. For the last few years of his life he lived with illness, bravely and with true dignity. Before that when he retired here, he met and married Ann who became the pride of his life. Sonny was born not fare away from here, lived far away from here and then came back to live here before going to live in another world now. As Christ conquered death not just for himself, but for us also.
The Prayers of the Faithful remembered with gratitude all who cared for and looked after Sonny in his illness, especially the wonderful staff of St. Andrews and St. Patrick’s that the Lord will reward them for their kindness, care and generosity.
Sincere sympathy in their sad loss is extended to his bereaved wife Ann, sister Chrissie, brother-in-law Niall, sister-in-law Emma, nephew, nieces, relatives and friends. May he Rest In Peace.