Teenage charity volunteers to carry coffin of 85-year-old to fulfil his dying wish

Olivia Kelleher

Teenagers who collect for the Cork housing charity SHARE are to fulfil the dying wish of an 85-year-old service member by shouldering his coffin prior to his cremation on Monday.

Kenyon Jones Ginn, fondly known as Taffy, lived in the SHARE Mount St Joseph Housing Complex in Cork from 2007 to 2021. He was without family in this country but had a large circle of friends.

The native of the Black Mountains in Wales went in to a nursing home four years ago after he developed dementia.

SHARE Homes Co ordinator Catherine O’Brien continued to visit Mr Jones in his nursing home. She also regularly brought him out to a shopping centre for his much loved doughnut and a cup of tea. He died on November 19th last.

Ms O’Brien is urging members of the public to line Shandon Street in Cork city on Monday as Taffy is taken from a funeral home to the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy for cremation.

Ms O’Brien, told the Neil Prendeville show on Cork’s Red FM that Taffy was the loveliest of men.

“I got to know him in about 2010. We used to run pool leagues and tournaments at the time and he loved playing pool. He was a real gentleman.

"He was very active at Mount St Joseph SHARE complex.He just loved the place. He loved Cork. He loved it so much that his wishes were that when he would die that he would want the SHARE students to carry his coffin. Then he would be cremated and his ashes spread around St Joseph.

"I know that he was born in Wales and when he was about four he was adopted by a deacon of the church as his parents had died.

"He was very interested in rugby and he also taught in a Sunday School in Wales. He used to preach in the church but he knew that wasn’t for him. He wanted to become a truck driver and he did. He drove all over England and Wales. I don’t know how he ended up in Cork.

"He loved singing and dancing and reciting poems and singing. He was a gentleman who helped everybody.”

Ms O’Brien said that the boys and girls of SHARE will shoulder the coffin on Monday (Dec 15th) as the remains of the pensioner are taken from Joe Coughlan’s Funeral Home on Shandon Street at 12:50pm to the Island Crematorium.

She said that anyone who would like to pay their respects to Taffy should attend the funeral home before 12:50pm on Monday.

Members of the public are also asked line the streets as the coffin is shouldered out of the funeral home. by the teenage volunteers of the charity.

It is understood that following the interview on Red FM today a family member of the deceased was located in Wales.

The ashes of Mr Jones Ginn will be spread on the grounds of the Mount St Joseph complex following his cremation.

Mr Jones Ginn was extraordinarily fond of the SHARE workers and it was his fondest wish that young volunteers carry his coffin from the funeral home following his death.

SHARE is a registered charity, founded in 1970 by students from Presentation Brothers College, Cork, who raised funds to try and make existing housing for the vulnerable elderly more comfortable.

One of the best known elements of their fundraising is the SHARE Christmas campaign which includes a 24-hour fast and the blessing of the crib in the city. The crib is staffed by students right up until Christmas Eve to encourage people to donate to the worthy cause.

Donations can be made to SHARE at sharecork.org.