Tributes paid to ‘one in a million’ Wexford mum Lisa (41) following her sudden passing
While the sun shone over the bank holiday weekend, it was as though a dark cloud hung over large parts of Wexford town. News of the devastating passing of popular mother of four Lisa Gabbett (41) weighed heavy upon the community, as people rallied around her heartbroken family.
Lisa sadly passed away following a medical emergency at her home in Maudlintown on Friday morning. There was a huge emergency response as the alarm was raised shortly after 7.30 a.m., but despite the best efforts of the attending paramedics, the mother-of-four was declared dead at the scene.
Her remains were brought to Wexford General Hospital and on to University Hospital Waterford for a post mortem examination and an official cause of death will be determined in due course.
Lisa’s passing was greeted with disbelief on the streets of her hometown. People struggled to come to terms with the sudden passing of a young mother who was “just so full of life”.
Her eldest daughter Casey (24) is currently expecting a child of her own and Lisa was getting ready to embrace being glamorous Granny. The Hantoon Road native was also a loving mother to Scott (19) and Noah (9), while her loss will no doubt have a devastating impact on her youngest, baby Amelia who is just a year and a half old.
Soon after Amelia’s arrival, Lisa got engaged to her partner David and they were planning a future together which has now been cut heartbreakingly short.
In the days after Lisa’s passing a GoFundMe page (My beautiful sister Lisa) was set up by her heartbroken sister Amy in order to help her children with funeral expenses and as they come to terms with life without their loving mother by their side.
“Our hearts are broken losing Lisa, especially her four children whose lives have been turned upside down and will be for a long time,” Amy wrote.
“Lisa was loved so much by everyone in our small town. I’m just trying to make life a little easier for her kids without the worry of money for her headstone and whatever else they may need to get them through this hard time. Love you forever Lisa. You’re at peace now.”
Within two days, the fundraiser had already surpassed the €2,000 target, reaching €3,000, leading Amy to note: “It makes a big difference for the four kids. Lisa didn’t realise how loved she was.”
That love was evident over the bank-holiday weekend as shocked friends and family members paid tribute to Lisa. She was remembered as a woman who was always full of fun and mischief and on a night out with Lisa, it was guaranteed that laughter would not be far behind.
Great company, those who knew her best described her as “one in a million” while many more will have been well acquainted with her big smile and chatty nature from behind the counter at Killeens service station, where she worked for many years.
Lisa’s funeral mass is set to take place on Wednesday at 12 noon at Bride Street Church, followed by burial afterwards in Crosstown Cemetery.
Lisa was the beloved daughter of Kathleen and the late Francis; step-daughter of Patrick and loving mother of Casey, the late baby Kian, Scott, Noah and Amelia. She was a loving sister to Lee, Amy, Gavin and Frank.
She is sadly missed by her loving mother, stepfather, sons, daughters, sister, brothers, step-sisters, step-brother, and their children, also David, her aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins extended family and friends.
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