Mrs Brown's Boys star Dermot O'Neill's late wife, Chickie, meticulously planned her own funeral. Patricia 'Chickie' Maguire passed away just seven days ago, aged 60. The wife of actor Dermot, who portrays Grandad in the BBC sitcom, received a cancer diagnosis in January this year. She had travelled to a hospital in Spain for a hernia operation when medics uncovered the tumour and were left unable to proceed with surgery. However, as Patricia's condition worsened, she made certain her funeral would be precisely as she envisioned, taking charge of the arrangements herself. During the service, her son, Salvador, revealed that she had ordered an end-of-life planner, which arrived on the very day she passed away.
The front of the planner bore the message: "Sorry, it's your problem now, because I'm dead," emblazoned across the cover. Reflecting on the planner, Salvador said: "That really made us laugh. That was my mum all over."
Throughout the funeral, each of Patricia's children — sons Salvador and Evan, alongside daughters Yolanda and Nicola — expressed their profound heartbreak over losing their mother. They voiced their pride at the remarkable turnout for the service, which "was a testament to how much she was loved," noting that their world had "gotten a lot quieter" since her passing. However, Dermot was too overcome with grief to speak during the service, yet rose to his feet as Chickie's coffin passed through the church doors at the conclusion of the proceedings. Afterwards, he revealed that Chickie had wished for karaoke at the wake, which was held at the nearby Kealy's, reports the Mirror.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: "Chickie wanted people to have a good time even at her funeral. That was very much her personality. She was a joyful, warm person. I'm so sad she is gone."
His Mrs Brown's Boys co-star Paddy Houlihan was amongst those paying their respects, admitting he had never seen his long-standing friend — whom he affectionately calls Bugsy — so visibly shaken. "I've known Bugsy for so many years and it's the first time he doesn't sound like Bugsy," he told the publication.
He added: "He's absolutely devastated. But everyone on Mrs Brown is there to support him. I know Brendan (O'Carroll) has been on the phone from Florida to Dermot a few times in the last few days. He will have a break now and all the cast are off until Mrs Brown starts shooting again in October."
Following her diagnosis earlier this year, Chickie had been receiving chemotherapy treatment at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. Reflecting on her diagnosis, she revealed she had been offered a place at a Spanish hospital for treatment, but ultimately chose to return to Ireland. She stated that if she stayed in Spain she would "never see my kids again". The mum-of-seven explained that she found it difficult to tell her children, particularly her sons Salvador and Evan, whom she informed alongside Dermot. She revealed her husband "put his hand on my knee" and they "all hugged and cried".
Heartbreakingly, her sole wish was to experience another Christmas with her family, as she had a three year old granddaughter, Ellie, and her "dream is to make it to Christmas Day and give her a kiss".
Dermot and Chickie tied the knot in 2012. The pair met at a Brendan O'Carroll concert, and they waited 20 years before exchanging vows.
