As Cat Deely and Patrick Kielty grapple with the loss of his beloved mother Mary, her tragic passing has shone a light on her remarkable and ‘resilient’ life which was dramatically framed by the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

This Morning host Cat was notably absent as Mary, 88 was laid to rest on Monday in County Down while Patrick looked bereft as he carried her coffin through his home village where he was joined by close family and friends.

A spokesperson for Cat told MailOnline the reason why she did not attend the burial was so that she could be present for her two children who are suffering the loss of their grandmother.

But for those gathered in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dundrum, Co Down, Mary’s final send-off proved to be a fitting testament to a life described as ‘difficult’ and ‘valiant’ after it was rocked by tragedy.

Her husband Jack was shot dead by protestant paramilitaries in 1988 who mistakenly claimed that he was an IRA chief.

She was aged 46 at the time while Patrick was only 16 and Mary was forced to raise him and his two brothers single handedly as she battled to keep the family together. She took a job in a local school, where she worked for most of her life, to help provide for them.

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As Cat Deely and Patrick Kielty grapple with the loss of his beloved mother Mary, her tragic passing has shone a light on her remarkable and ‘resilient’ life

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This Morning host Cat was notably absent as Mary, 88 was laid to rest on Monday in County Down while Patrick looked bereft as he carried her coffin through his home village

Known for her sharp sense of humour and gritty ‘no nonsense’ attitude, she was an integral part of the local community, even becoming chair of the village football club.

She passed away peacefully at her home in Dundrum, where she raised her children on Saturday with a death notice befittingly describing her as a ‘loving mother’ and ‘devoted grandmother.’

Born in 1940, Mary was the youngest of four sisters and a brother and grew up on a farm near Annaclone.

Throughout her life she shared a deep bond with all three of her sons who paid moving tributes to her during her funeral.

Her eldest son John told mourners about their ‘brilliant’ childhood despite the horror of their father being so callously murdered.

He said in his eulogy: ‘Mary’s life changed in 1988 when Daddy was killed. Left with three sons aged 18 and under, it was a real bad hand of cards.

‘She got a job in the school, got involved in the football club. She even managed to become chairperson and she got the three of us reared.’

Patrick, who had presented an episode of RTÉ’s flagship TV programme The Late Late Show hours before her death, gave the second reading at her funeral Mass.

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A spokesperson for Cat told MailOnline the reason why she did not attend the burial was so that she could be present for her two children who are suffering the loss of their grandmother (pictured on Monday’s This Moring)

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But for those gathered in the church in Dundrum, Co Down, Mary’s final send-off proved to be a fitting testament to a life described as ‘difficult’ and ‘valiant’ after it was rocked by tragedy

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View gallery

Her husband Jack was shot dead by protestant paramilitaries in 1988 who mistakenly claimed that he was an IRA chief [A 16-year-old Patrick seen carrying his father’s coffin]

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Patrick, who had presented an episode of RTÉ’s flagship TV programme The Late Late Show hours before her death, gave the second reading at her funeral Mass

He has previously spoken movingly of his love for his mother and the unique connection she enjoyed with him and his siblings.

Not long after taking over The Late Late Show he revealed how Mary still offered to do his laundry for him.

He said: ‘I think Irish mummies never really understand what age their youngsters actually are.

‘So, you do get a lot of offers like ‘Do you have any washing’ and I would be like ‘Well no, no that’s done, I’m 53 mum’.’