The funeral details of Kathleen Watkins have been released after her sad passing on Thursday.
Kathleen was the wife of the late broadcaster Gay Byrne, who died five years ago. Gay was best known for hosting The Late Late Show for 37 years before Pat Kenny took over in 1999.
Kathleen had a brilliant career as a harpist and folk singer before she joined RTE as a continuity announcer. The broadcaster also became a successful children’s author in her later years, writing books surrounding "Pigín", a character she came up with by telling stories to her grandchildren.
Read more: Kathleen Watkins said she was 'grateful for the long life I’ve had' before passing away
Read more: Gay Byrne's incredible legacy: Fearless interviewer, 50 year marriage to wife Kathleen and life on the TV
Kathleen's funeral notice on Rip.ie stated that she died peacefully in the wonderful care of the team at the Blackrock Clinic. "Beloved wife and best friend of the late Gay Byrne, loving mother to Crona and Suzy, adored Nana Kit to Cian, Sadhbh, Kate, Saoirse and Harry, mother-in-law to Philip and Ronan and sister of Clare, Phil and the late Jim.
"Sadly missed by her family, relatives and a wide circle of treasured friends."
Kathleen's funeral cortege will depart from Howth at 11am on Tuesday, 12th November, arriving for Requiem Mass at 12 noon at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, followed by a private burial.
Kathleen's family have requested family flowers only and the house is private.
Kathleen and Gay's daughter Suzy paid tribute to her late mother today, with Suzy saying her always said that Kathleen becoming "Nana Kit" was her most important job.
"My father always said that in hindsight mum's life was building up to the day she became a grandmother. Her adoration of her grandchildren was renowned," Suzy said.
"When I announced to her that I was pregnant with Cian at the time - her first grandchild - she said at that time, when I was only six weeks pregnant, that she will forever be known as Nana Kit and not mum anymore. From that day on, she wouldn't answer to anything else.
"We all called her Nana Kit and her relationship with Cian, Sadhbh, Kate, Saoirse and Harry is phenomenal, and they have benefitted from her interest in them, and her education of them. The children that they are and what they've become is so much down to her because she taught them manners and she introduced them to music.
"That became her life for the last twenty years - and Pigín the books were obviously a part of that - but she just adored the grandchildren."
"My mother passed away at her most favourite time of the day as the sun rises," Suzy told Joe Duffy on RTE Radio 1's Liveline.
"She was a very early riser, often before the dawn, so it was quite appropriate she went at that time. We are devastated but at the same time, we realise how lucky we are to have had her."
May she rest in peace.
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