A MOTHER of two who was killed in a crash while taking her young daughter to school “doted on her kids” and “left everyone who met her with a warm feeling”.
Rhoda Holland (45), Ballygriffin, Killavullen, Co Cork, was taking her daughter Jorja (6) to school in Mallow when the collision occurred shortly after 9am last Thursday. The crash happened just minutes after Ms Holland left her family home with her daughter.
Ms Holland’s Toyota Carina car was involved in a collision with a dumper truck at Kilcanway on the N72 Fermoy-Mallow road.
She was pronounced dead at the scene but her daughter Jorja escaped serious injury. The truck driver, who was treated for shock at Mallow General Hospital, also did not incur serious injury.
Parish priest of Killavullen Fr Richard Hegarty said yesterday he was saddened by Ms Holland’s death. “She was a beautiful lady, a very nice person. Your heart would go out to [her husband] Tommy.”
Local Labour TD Seán Sherlock said Ms Holland was well loved in the community. “It is true that everyone loved her. She was very outgoing. There is a lot of sadness in the area today. It is a tragedy. Our heart goes out to the family. She is going to be badly missed.”
Ms Holland is survived by Tommy, their daughter Jorja and their teenage son Gene.
The family had moved back to Killavullen from England 10 years ago.
Ms Holland was brought to Cork University Hospital where a postmortem examination was carried out yesterday morning. A forensic examination of the scene of the crash has been carried out.
Her removal takes place this evening at 6pm from O’Connell’s Funeral Home in Mallow to St Nicholas’s Church, Killavullen. The funeral takes place tomorrow after 11.30am Mass to Killavullen New Cemetery.
Gardaí have appealed for any witnesses to the crash to contact Mallow station on (022) 31450.