Agnes McCarthy Mulholland (7 Aug 1940 - 6 Nov 2016)

Lots of wonderful childhood and teenage memories.
Agnes was our beautiful bridesmaid many years ago.
All Our love Agnes & John
XXX

In memory of a very special lady, from Alison's pharmacy friends at GRI ❤️❤️

The best mother in law you can have, she looked after me and fed me well.

She will sadly missed.

Agnes Mulholland - Thoughts and memories

Special well loved lady, surrounded by caring supportive family and friends
Easy to talk to and to make friends
Always a cheery word and supportive chat
Always positive regardless of circumstances
Always prepared with a hankie, as well as, a wee sweetie and emergency fiver in her purse.
Loved to cook for her family and friends
her signature steak pie with sausages will be missed
as will be her scones and cakes and tablet
Agnes' first School Domestic Science project was Macaroni Cheese which she proudly brought home much to the delight and relish of her father.
Enjoyed having fun and always said yes when outings proposed.
Inquisitive and interested, loved new experiences and exploring, especially the cruises to foreign places taken with Alison in her later years
Loved playing party games, special Christmas favourites included "Who is in the bag" and "Mr and Mrs Right". She showed a fierce competitive streak and wo-betide anyone caught cheating, although, maybe the biggest cheat was Agnes herself!

Due to I'll health she spent a lot of time as an in- and out-patient at the Royal Infirmary. Many of the consultants looking after her had first come across Agnes when they were trainee junior doctors. She got on well with all of the doctors, nursing staff, auxiliaries, domestics and support staff. In her final weeks, there was a steady stream of these very special people popping in for a quick word and a hug. It was amazing to hear them talking with Agnes and hearing just how much interest Agnes took in them and their families as well as the genuine love and affection expressed. Her brother, Don, said if there are such things as angels, then he saw them in the care and attention given Agnes in her final days. Agnes' family are very grateful for the care given with such kindness, consideration and affection.

Agnes McCarthy Mulholland
 
Born Agnes McCarthy Henderson on 7th August 1940
 
Father: Donald Cameron Henderson Maintenance Engineer/Manager
Mother: Alice McCarthy, Hairdresser
 
Agnes’ parents met on holiday in the Isle of Man around 1936/7 before the war and got married in October 1939. They lived in the East end of Glasgow near Kent Road and near to Alice’s family. Agnes was their first child, born in 1940. Agnes was named after her maternal and paternal grandmothers. Her brother, John was born in October 1943, followed by Donald in  November 1944. Agnes’s first school was Kent Road Primary School. She recalled that at this time her bedroom was the big cupboard in the front room - eat your heart out Harry Potter! Hers was a loving family and because her Mother Alice was very close to her sister Molly, the Henderson kids were brought up with their Goodwin cousins Agnes and David. The two families did everything together, frequently getting together for family parties and musical evenings where everyone had to take their turn. Agnes and her cousin Agnes Goodwin were great friends, playing “little mothers” to the 3 boys and frequently having to “baby-sit” them.
 
When Agnes was about 10, the family moved to a “Steel House” in Sandyhills, where the family remained until she left school. She attended Eastbank Primary and then Wellshott Secondary. She was very sociable and loved to be active. She went with the school to Glenmore Lodge where she had great fun rambling, climbing, swimming, canoeing etc. On this trip, her canoe capsized. Agnes and her friend were easily rescued, but unfortunately she contracted Rheumatic Fever which left her with a heart murmur, the forerunner of her medical problems. As was the custom in those days, she spent a lot of time in nursing homes in the country to regain her health and strength. It is a mark of her friendly outgoing personality that 20 years later, she was warmly remembered by the former Principal of Glenmore Lodge recounting tales to her brother Don on the ski slopes of France.
 
On leaving school, Agnes was the cashier/accountant at the local Post Office/Newsagent at Garrowhill, near to where the family were now living. After about 3 years she left to become the cashier/accountant at Latters dress shop in the centre of Glasgow. Agnes was always hard-working, friendly and caring She was much appreciated by her managers and colleagues. Agnes didn’t have many boy friends and frequently wee brother Donald was taken along, especially if she wasn’t too keen on them! Lots of trips to the cinema and the ice-skating. About this time she met Bill Clayton and they went out for a number of years before he became her first husband and the father of her daughter Alison. Just before the wedding, the Dress Shop, invited Agnes to bring her mother in so that they could choose the wedding dress as a gift from the shop. Whatever happened in their marriage, Agnes and Bill have remained firm friends throughout her life.
 
As an independent single parent, she got her own house in Baillieston and moved to work as a Housing Officer with Scottish Special Housing where she remained for 19 years before having to retire for health reasons. This is where she met Jim Mulholland and was wooed by his charms. Jim was a widower, living with his grown-up daughter Margaret and her two children. Agnes’ warm, friendly, fun-loving and outgoing personality soon had them included into one big family and Agnes had over-night become a step-grandmother, with Margaret’s children, Lesley and John similar in age to Alison and the three became firm friends enjoying lots of family time. Agnes and Jim were soul-mates who delighted in each others company and that of their family and friends.