The late Josephine Pender never stopped searching for her beloved daughter who disappeared on August 22, 1996.
Her son, who is the only surviving member of their family, shared a touching letter written by the mum, who worked tirelessly to find her daughter, Fiona.
The letter was composed in 2011 and reveals the mother's heartbreak.
Her son John has vowed to honour his mother, and won’t give up on looking for his sister, who has been missing for 21 years.
Fiona was 25 years old when she vanished. She was expecting a baby at the time of her disappearance from her home in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
He says, “I am now calling for a full Garda review and/or cold case review into my sister’s case.”
John hopes the public will assist him in this search for his sister. He believes it’s the least they can do after his mother spent so much time trying to find her daughter, whom she described as her best friend.
Josephine lived a troubled and traumatic life. Her son Mark was killed in a road traffic accident in 1995, and her husband Sean died by suicide in 2000; he was not able to cope with the heartache of losing Fiona.
John expressed a deep admiration for his determined mother, “My mother kept fighting, kept hoping and kept searching for Fiona right up until the end.”
The letter read:
‘Dear Fiona, When we lost your brother Mark on 12 June 1995, you said to me “nothing worse can happen to us now, Mam”. We did not know then that 14 months later we would lose you and your baby on 22 August 1996, and your dad on 31 March 2000 from a broken heart after losing his children.
‘When I lost you, Fi, my first-born, my beautiful only daughter; I lost my best friend with whom I could discuss anything, my shopping companion - you had such a flair for fashion. Oh, the shoes and handbags we could have bought together, Fi.
The heartbroken mum goes on to say that the brother John that Fiona ‘idolised’ has become a ‘fine young man’ despite all the heartache.
‘I greatly regret not being able to help you on the birth of your baby, my grandchild.
‘My heart and my arms ache never to have been able to hold and look after your baby.’
Josephine never gave up on her daughter. She put every ounce of her energy into searching for Fiona. She constantly campaigned and begged the public to help.
Josephine passed away at the age of 68 after a short illness. Her funeral was held at St.Colmcille’s Church, Durrow, Co Offaly last Saturday. The letter was read out during the ceremony.
