Margaret "Gretta" Creedon, mother of Father Gerry Creedon, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington, died Aug. 20 in County Cork, Ireland. She is credited by her fellow Irishmen as the woman who put Inchigeela, Ireland, on the tourist map.

Margaret Creedon, along with her husband John, opened the famous Creedon’s Hotel, which has attracted people from across the world to Inchigeela in southwest Cork.

Margaret, who had nine brothers and sisters, was born in 1918 in west Cork. In 1936 she moved to Margate, England, where she studied nursing. She later returned to Ireland to marry John and the couple settled in Inchigeela, where they built up a number of businesses including a post office, hotel, shop and mill. The income from these ventures supported their 14 children.

All of the businesses, particularly the post office, were highly successful. The quality of the hotel was commended in the 1970s when the couple was awarded the National Tourism Endeavour Award.

When her husband died suddenly in 1986, Margaret continued to spearhead their enterprises. Only in the last 15 years did she gradually retire herself from the day-to-day operations.

In his funeral Mass homily, Father Creedon described his mother’s last moments: "She had suffered a severe stroke. At the moment of death, she raised herself up, lifted her arms and her eyes to heaven and smiled. Then she lay back and died."

Margaret is survived by 14 children; Teresa, Michael, Con Don, Gerard, Nora Mry, Oliver, Bernard, Thomas, Richard, Joseph, Dominic, Willie John, Miriam and Margaret; and 46 grandchildren.

Following a Requiem Mass at the Church of St. Finbarr and the Holy Angels in Inchigeela, interment was held at the same church Aug. 23.

A memorial fund has been established in Margaret Creedon’s name, to benefit the St. Charles Borromeo Parish Center. For information, call 703/527-5500.