Shock and sadness at death of Laois woman

placeholder image — The late Denise Geoghegan

There has been widespread shock as news of the sudden death of Laois woman Denise Geoghegan.

Her death has caused deep shock and sadness in Portarlington where she had lived with her husband Emmet and sons Curtis, Corey and Caeden.

Tributes were paid on social media to the popular mother of three who passed away suddenly on Tuesday.

Mrs Geoghegan, who was very popular, had campaigned to highlight the importance of organ donation after she received a life saving transplant in the Mater Hospital in Dublin in 2020.

The community in Portarlington and throughout Laois and beyond had rallied around Mrs Geoghegan to help raise funds when she was going through her transplant.

On social media Bracknagh GAA said: “On behalf of the committee and membership extend our deepest Condolences to Emmett Geoghegan on the sad and untimely passing of his wife Denise, our thoughts are with Emmett, Curtis, Caedan and Corey and the Geoghegan and Lyons families at this sad time.”

Pictured above: The Geoghegan family pictured before Denise's transplant in 2020

Mrs Geoghegan, the loving sister of the late Tommy and Mark, is survived by her loving husband Emmet, sons Curtis, Corey and Caeden and parents Tommy and Concepta. Her brothers Stephen, Kenny and Evin, sister Carol, granny Ryan, parents-in-law Tommy and Mary, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.

From Cathair na gCapall in Portarlington went from feeling unwell after Christmas in 2019 to being confined to a hospital room waiting and hoping for a life saving heart transplant.

She spoke to the Leinster Express in early 2020 about the traumatic first few months after diagnosis

"The biggest shock was being told in St James' hospital that it was looking like I needed a transplant. I was on my own at the time. Now I just want to get home to my kids," she said.

There is a history of cardiomyopathy in her family. Her dad is on a pacemaker and her aunt died from the disease.

She went on to wait in isolation all through the Covid-19 pandemic in the Mater Cardiac Unit in Dublin waiting for a transplant which came that July.

The town of Port got behind Denise throughout in the many fundraisers supporting her while ill and in recovery from the transplant.