Margo O'Donnell has paid tribute to her beloved nephew Frankie, who sadly passed away last month after battling cancer for four years. Known affectionately as 'Bosco', Frankie was in his 40s and is fondly remembered by his wife, three children, and the wider family.
Country music legend Margo reflected on her nephew's courageous fight against the illness, and the remarkably poignant send-off he received. She recalled: "It was like a State funeral. There were people lined up along the road from Frankie's house to the church and they were clapping as his coffin passed by."
She expressed her awe at the outpouring of support, saying, "It was something I never saw in Donegal before. It's a true saying, 'their hearts are like their mountains in the hills of Donegal'."
Frankie shared his name with Margo and her famed brother Daniel's father, and she perceived a striking resemblance between the two in spirit and character, reports RSVP Live.
In conversation with the Sunday World, Margo revealed: "Daniel has the spiritual side to him where likes to sing the Gospel stuff. I can see my father in Daniel, but I could see my father's double in Frankie.
"It's terrible the effect that Frankie's sickness and his death has had on us all. What has been taken from us is pure gold, but I wouldn't wish Frankie to suffer one more second of what he suffered for four years."
A close bond between aunt and nephew was evident through the affectionate nickname he had for her, which stuck from childhood. Margo shared: "Frankie always called me Mannie. He couldn't say Margaret when he was a wee boy, it came out as Mannie and that stuck for the rest of his life.
"The week before he died we had a photograph taken together by his wife, Lisa. He pulled me close and said, 'This will be the last photograph Mannie'. He knew he was going," divulged Margo as she remembered her time with Frankie, who spent his final years creating cherished memories with wife Lisa and their children Sarah, Logan, and Ryan.
"I sent them to Disneyland, and last May he was able to take Logan and Ryan to see his beloved Celtic win the Scottish Cup final. That's a wonderful memory they'll always have with their dad.
"We have lost a pure diamond. But we have to be grateful that we had him for the time that we had. We were blessed to have him."
Daniel announced the news of Frankie's passing in a heartfelt post on social media last month.
He wrote: "It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my dear nephew Frankie (Bosco) O Donnell. Frankie passed away this morning surrounded by his family. He will be sadly missed by his wife Lisa and their children Sarah, Logan and Ryan, his parents, my brother John and his wife Bridget and Frankie's brother Joey and all the extended family."
"Thank you for all your prayers over the past few months and I would ask you to keep his family in your prayers at this very difficult time."
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