Peter Guerin

Everyone who visited Purple House would have had the pleasure of meeting Peter, his gentle manner put you at ease straight away.

Peter first got involved in Purple House in 1996 while we were in Carlton Tce., Novara Road, Bray.

Peter’s late wife Breda was ill with breast cancer at the time.

Peter loved to sit and chat over a cup of tea, and we became great friends as by this time Breda was very ill and he was in much need of help and support.

Breda later told me that she was glad Peter had contacted us and got involved as she knew he needed it.

Peter continued to call into the Drop In Centre each week until sadly Breda passed away.

Two days after Breda was buried, Peter came into the Centre for support and to chat and he never left us, until recently when he became too ill to come into us.

Peter was so popular with everyone who knew him and he had time for everyone. He was a terrific asset to us at Purple House and became involved in fundraising, the Men’s support group and later driving our clients into hospital for their treatments.

Peter was one of our most loyal and committed volunteers but most of all he was a true friend.

To me personally he was always by my side and helped us shape our community based cancer support centre to be the much sought after centre it is today. He knew at first hand the value of community based support services and he in turn ensured that others in need knew this too.

As time went on Peter attended many network meetings and conferences both at home and in the UK and Europe.

It was at the National Conference of cancer support groups in Manchester in 2002 that he met his present wife, Ann O Neill.

Ann was a widow like Peter, and the two of them became good friends throughout the three day conference.

Five representatives from our Centre attended this Conference and since that time two weddings have taken place.

One wedding was Peter and Ann and the other was John and Jose.

I was only too happy for them as I knew the heartache that they had all suffered in the previous years and they had found happiness and love again as they shared a common bond of loss and loneliness.

As time went on Peter joined our Management Committee and Board of Trustees and was instrumental in helping set up the Men’s Allotment Project with Brendan. Initially this took place in Festina Lente in Old Conna, Bray and later moved to the Shanganagh Community Gardens in Shankill.

All the men involved loved these mornings over in the Allotment and while some gardening was carried out, more time was spent chatting and making friends and eating donuts!!!. I used to joke that they only went there for the cakes.

The past four years have been tough ones for Peter, and for Ann and for the Guerin and the O’ Neill families and my heart goes out to them all.

Peter continued to come into the Centre over the past four years when he felt well enough to sit and chat with the men, and all of us who were on duty during those days. They had formed a very special bond and I know they will really miss him coming and going. He always had a smile and a joke and was always in good form.

He will be sadly missed by everyone but I will always remember his kindness and support to me and he will always remain in my heart.

We had kept him up to date with all our developments, particularly around our move to our new permanent cancer support centre with regular phone calls and we made visits to his garden to chat with him and Ann, but he never made it into see our new centre at 2 Duncairn Tce and this is something of which I feel sad about.

But I know he will be with us in spirit and will continue to guide us from afar.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Veronica