Brigid Teresa Cutler

Brigid Cutler, (Breide) was the beloved daughter of Patrick and Ellen Jane McNeill, and came into the world on June 17, 1935, at her family’s homestead, in Cloneymore, County Antrim, in Northern Ireland. She was the youngest of five , (Alec, Roseleen,Patrick, and John), in their parents’ loving family. Sadly, days before Breide’s third birthday, her mother passed away followed by her father two months later. The loss of both parents sparked Breide’s earliest memory, the day her siblings were split up and sent to live with various relatives in the area.

Breide and her sister, Rosaleen, lived with their Aunt Mary and Uncle James, on a farm in Knocknacrow, Glendun, a mile away from their parents’ home. Breide loved living on the farm, her dog Topsy and feeding the sheep. The family gathered to say the Rosary and prayers, each evening, by the fireplace. They attended Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church where her early Catholic faith began.

Breide was an excellent student and loved reading, a treasure she enjoyed all her life. She attended Glendun Elementary, a one-room schoolhouse. At Ballymena Technical High School, Breide took accelerated classes and graduated in two years.

At the tender age of 17, Breide boarded the steamship, ASCANIA, alone, and departed Northern Ireland for the United States of America. Excited about this new adventure, She lived with her sister in Brooklyn, and worked in the skyscrapers in Manhattan as a secretary. She loved life in NYC, riding subways, attending Irish dances, visiting clubs like the Latin Quarters, the Copacabana, and vacationing in the Catskills.

She met her future husband Donald at a friend’s party. The couple married in 1960 and were blessed with three beautiful children: Laurie Ann (1962), David Gerard (1964), and Melissa Ann (1967). During this time, the couple moved to Long Island and Breide taught Holy Communion classes at Sacred Heart Catholic Church for many years. She later went back to work and eventually became secretary to the president of Carter Wallace.

In retirement, Breide and Don moved to Florida, and after Don’s death she moved to CHRISTUS St. Joseph’s faith-based senior living community in Coppell, TX. She was a member of the Linens Society and enjoyed being close to the Church. Breide cherished the wonderful friends she made at St. Joseph’s. She also treasured the ability to more fully prepare herself for her next life with Christ in Heaven.

In June of 2025, the entire family gathered to celebrate her 90th birthday. A riverboat cruise was the highlight of the trip, and we all laughed and cried as we lovingly told her what she meant to us. Each member of the family came up with one word or phrase to describe her, and the responses were both touching and hilarious.

Breide always said her greatest accomplishment was her family. She loved her 3 children and their spouses (Thomas, Sarah, Andrew), her 9 grandchildren (Seana, Tara, Sr Maeve, Dillon, Anderson, Taryn, Ian, Abram and Evelyn)and 9 great grandchildren (Aiden, Caleb, Liam, Emma, Emmet, Kieran, Declan, Mollie and Bennett). She instilled her faith in them, prayed for them, and celebrated their successes. Truly her greatest joys. Everyone who met her immediately found her endearing with one acquaintance referring to her as “everyone’s Irish grandma.” Always up for a glass of wine, she loved good conversation, books of all kinds and discussions about God.

Now, we are called to gather and celebrate her again. To attest to the wonderful role model she was to all of us. To stand witness to her faith, strength, and love, and to pray for her as she joins Christ in his heavenly home for eternity.

Visitation and rosary will be held from 7:30-9:00 AM on Wednesday, November 26 at Rolling Oaks Funeral Home, 400 Freeport Pkwy, Coppell, TX. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Ann Catholic Church, 180 Samuel Blvd., Coppell TX at 10 AM. Reception to follow at Rolling Oaks Funeral Home.