Obituary

Jane “Jennie” Margaret Walsh (née Kehoe) was born on July 12, 1930, in Coolraheen, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland to Bridget Carpenter & Myles Kehoe, and passed away peacefully on July 19, 2024. Jennie was preceded in death by her loving husband, Michael.

Jennie was one of eleven siblings: Delia † (Johnny †) Brennan of The Rower, Ireland; Nano (Keith †) Braid of Victoria, Canada; Elsie Kehoe† of New York, New York; Jim † (Mary) Kehoe of Muckalee, Ireland; Paddy †  (Patricia) Kehoe of Corta Madera, California; Myles Kehoe † of Calgary, Canada; Dan (Frances) Kehoe of New York, New York; Leo (Ann) Kehoe of Hawley, Pennsylvania; Vincent Kehoe of New York, New York; and Jemma (Wayne) Lynch of Calgary, Canada.

Jennie and Michael had six children together: Michael (Jackie) Walsh of Boca Raton, Florida; Patrick (Natalie) Walsh of Hilo, Hawaii; Brigid (Andy) Flanagan of Tarpon Springs, Florida; John (Mary Beth) Walsh of Orlando, Florida; Desmond Walsh of Deerfield Beach, Florida; and Patricia (Tony) Riggi of Boca Raton, Florida.

They were blessed with thirteen grandchildren: Patrick-Myles (Brea) Walsh of Hawaii; Nathan Walsh of Cambridge, England; Lawrence Walsh of Ithaca, New York; Lucille Walsh of Hilo, Hawaii; Vivian Walsh of The Hague, Netherlands; Jennie Walsh of Hilo, Hawaii; Andrew Flanagan of Tarpon Springs, Florida; Jack (Julia) Walsh of Orlando, Florida; Thomas Flanagan of Tarpon Springs, Florida; Brenna Walsh of Raleigh, North Carolina; Anthony Riggi of Orlando, Florida; Cara Riggi of Boca Raton, Florida; and Marianne Walsh of Hilo, Hawaii. They also had two great-grandchildren: Lennon Walsh of Hawaii; and Leon Walsh of Hawaii.

Jennie often spoke of the fond memories she had of being raised on a farm in Cassagh, Co. Kilkenny, where she developed her strong family values, trust in God, resourcefulness, joy for life, and ability to balance work with play. At the age of eighteen, Jennie joined her sisters Nano and Elsie in Middlesex, England for Medical & Surgical Nursing, then completed training as a Midwife in 1954. She worked in Canada, Alaska, and New York, always surrounded by family and friends.

Despite growing up mere miles from each other in Co. Kilkenny, Jennie and Michael were introduced to each other by a mutual friend in New York. They married in Ireland in 1959, began their family in New York, and welcomed their six children. Family wasn’t limited to just her children: she embraced her nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends with open arms. Many happy memories were made with Jennie, and thanks to her insistence on posing for the camera, there are copious amounts of photos to preserve those memories.

In 1975, they moved back to Ireland and operated the Walsh’s shop in Gowran. As their children grew and started leaving home, they eventually flocked to the warm weather of Florida.

Jennie and Michael enjoyed celebrating their Irish culture with their many friends in the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the West Coast Irish American Club. and with traditional Irish music from Michael’s band “The Shades of Green”.
They finally settled in Deerfield Beach where they continued to host dinners, card games, and vacationing guests. They enjoyed trips to Ireland, visiting family, bowling, and taking cruises.

After losing Michael in 2011, Jennie continued an active life, due in no small part to the devotion her son Desmond showed her as a full-time caregiver over the last nine years of her life. Shortly before her passing, Jennie enjoyed celebrating a family reunion and her 94th birthday, surrounded by her six children and many of her grandchildren.

"Life is what you make of it"...Jennie had a fantastic outlook on life and always looked forward to the next adventure. 

Funeral Mass

Monday, August 12, 2024, at 10:30 am

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church

5201 Military Trail.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33064