Peacefully, in the excellent care of the staff at Macmillan Unit at Antrim Area Hospital. Retired librarian at Coleraine University. Kay, predeceased by her parents Patrick and Kathleen, her brother Aidan, sister-in-law Gillian and brother-in-law Brian. She will be sadly missed by her dearly beloved sister Mary Stephens, brother Frank, nephews Patrick, Gary, Alan and Stuart, sister-in-law Annette and extended family, friends and in particular Celia and Raymond, who were such wonderful friends to Kay during her illness and life.
Rest In Peace.
Reposing at The Foley and McGowan Funeral Home, Market Yard, Sligo on Wednesday from 12:00pm with a Celebration of her life taking place at 1:00pm. Funeral will proceed to St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Scarden, Sligo for burial after.
You can stream Kay’s Celebration of Life live on The Foley and McGowan Funeral Home Facebook Page.
Family flowers only. Donations if desired to the Irish Cancer Society, care of The Foley and McGowan Funeral home.
You are welcome to leave a message of condolence for her family below.
We were shocked to hear of Kay’s death & wish to send our deepest sympathy to her family.
We live close by in Swilly Drive & shall miss seeing her as we often did when walking our dog.
Kay was a wonderful friend and colleague. I will miss her wisdom and insight. Rest in peace Kay, until we meet again
Kay was a wonderfully helpful colleague to me when I joined the New University of Ulster as it was called in 1978…and she continued to be an excellent support for many years afterwards
What a colleague and friend…she will be sorely missed
We remember many happy times over the years with Kay at the university in Coleraine. Fun filled lunchtimes, parties and great nights at the wine club. We were greatly privileged to see her last October for lunch in Portrush. She was a lovely person and we will miss her greatly.
So very sorry to hear of Kay’s passing. She was such a gentle soul and will be sorely missed by Mary and Frank. May she rest in peace
My sincere condolences to Kays family. Kay and l have been friends and work colleagues for 30 plus years in the university, such a lovely lady and good friend. She will be sadly missed and fondly remembered X
My deepest sympathy to Mary and Frank on the loss ofvKay, one of my teenage tennis opponents. RIP
With Kay’s passing I have lost a friend of more than fifty years. We met soon after she came to work in the University library where she had endeared herself with the M.A. “lads”, one of whom was my husband. We joined forces for plays and concerts and exchanged books and opinions and news of our respective families. On Wednesday afternoons too numerous to mention we fled from work to meet and play in the Ladies’ Competitions at Portstewart Golf Club and again on Sundays for a more relaxed game. Latterly we met at the Bridge table and over a glass, or two even, of wine at Wine Appreciation meetings.
Kay was quietly knowledgeable, widely read and clever with a wry sense of humour and she was hospitable, generous and a good friend.
Rest In Peace, you were among one of my most favourite customers. I will miss our chats and I will miss your garden.
Until we meet again
Love
Ricky, Danielle, Jack and Nick
I too was a colleague of Kay’s at the New University of ulster in Coleraine. Some of us left and worked as librarians in other parts of Ireland. However we met up over the years at National conferences and it was always a pleasure to meet Kay again on such occasions. She was a wonderful colleague. My sincere sympathy to all the Ballantine family on the loss of Kay. She will be greatly missed by her friends in Portstewart and Coleraine as well as her Dublin friends.
Beatrice Doran
Kay was one of our first neighbours in Swilly Drive, she was a lovely lady always kind to us, our children and our pets. Always more than happy to help if we needed her. We were so sad to hear of her passing and so happy we knew her. She will be sadly missed, condolences to all her family and close friends. Fondly remembered by The Stuart family
I was saddened to learn that Kay has passed away. I knew Kay for many years as a friend and neighbour. She was full of energy and enthusiasm for her many interests, and great company too. I remember in particular when she was working at the University, it was always a pleasure to meet at lunchtime in the common room with her and other friends in our circle to relax, chat and laugh. We also had a shared interest in wine and had many a good time at tastings over the years.
Sincere condolences.
I have happy memories of great holidays with Kay in France, Italy and Portugal many years ago and also of meeting up at library conferences over the years.
Sincere condolences to her family.
So sad to learn that Kay is no longer with us.
She was so kind in looking after our cat when we were away.
Our condolences to her family.
Gill and Steve Parr , Swilly drive neighbours
So sorry to hear the sad news and my thoughts and prayers are with Kay’s loved ones. She was one of those rare, quietly modest but highly intelligent colleagues at UU who humbly offered her expertise to the MRes (and many other) students, with a twinkle in her eye and the necessary humour to deal with the stresses of university shenanigans. One of life’s intrinsically decent, kind and thoughtful people. Rest in Peace Kay.
I was very saddened to read of the news of Kay’s passing. She was a wonderful colleague – and good and thoughtful friend to me – during my years working at the University.
I would like to pass on my condolences to Kay’s family on behalf of the Causeway U3A bridge clubs where she played for many of years. She was a kind, unassuming, gorgeous lady and will be sadly missed by anyone who came in contact with her.
May she rest in peace.
A gracious lady very hardworking a good colleague and freind
It came as a terrible shock today to hear that my dear friend Kay had sadly died 12 days ago. Kay and I met regularly for delicious lunches and coffees, our latest outing on 8th November.
Kay was a lady who was very kind, thoughtful, modest and discreet. My memories of Kay will last for many years to come and I will miss her greatly.
I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear this week of the death of Kay. She was a great colleague and friend in the university library for many years, a gentle, kind, lady, with a great sense of humour. I send my very deepest sympathy to her family circle.