The late Gilbert Carey

Not until November of this year would Gilbert Carey, of The Little Orchard, Broadwood, Ballinagore, have celebrated his 40th birthday.Sadly, his family will mark that date alone, as his untimely death came on May 18, leaving great sadness among his many friends, as well as his family.Gilbert had been diagnosed as seriously ill with cancer in December 2008, and on St. Stephen's Day of 2008, he began targeted therapy, and after treatment, there was some optimism all round, and indeed, Gilbert returned to his work, as a digger driver with the OPW.Tragically, in January of this year, his condition disimproved, and Gilbert was forced to give up work as he and his family battled the condition. Sadly, he did not come through that battle, and on Thursday May 20, Gilbert's funeral Mass took place at St. Michael's Church, Castletown Geoghegan, with burial in the adjoining cemetery.Always a lover of motorbikes, Gilbert had many friends in the biking community, and for his funeral, there was a cortege of 100 bikes.Gilbert had himself, not long before his death, achieved his dream of buying a Harley Davidson - a bike he has willed to his daughter Grace, who is just seven.The funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr. Seamus Giles, PP, Castletown Geoghegan, assisted by Fr. Tommy O'Byrne from Portarlington.Gilbert is survived by his wife Claire, and his children, Grace, and little Tommy, who only turned two on April 30.He is also survived by his parents, Gilbert Snr. And Ber; his twin brother Anthony, and his sister Brenda; his father-in-law; mother-in-law; uncles, aunts, cousins, extended family, neighbours and friends.