The 'Taken' actor had previously lost his wife, Natasha Richardson, in a tragic skiing accident in Canada. His mother was fiercely proud of her shy son and a force to reckon with.
Losing a parent can be the hardest thing that any child has to experience. A good parent is someone who is a mentor and a friend, forever supportive, and proud of us. Not having them in our life anymore can be devastating for anyone, no matter how old. Actor Liam Neeson, 68, is known for being a tough action star but losing his mother, who has been a constant in his life for decades, would be tough for him too.
What is more tragic is that Neeson lost his mother Kitty just one day before his 68th birthday. Katherine "Kitty" Neeson died in northern Ireland at the age of 94 on June 6. Her death was noted during the mass at All Saints Church in Ballymena, which was live-streamed on the church's Facebook page. "Let us pray for the faithful departed. We pray for those that died recently… and Kitty Neeson. Her funeral arrangements will be later," Parish Priest Monsignor Paddy Delargy said in the video.
"Neeson Catherine (Kitty): 6th June 2020 (peacefully) at Slemish Nursing Home, late of 2 Kenvara Broughshane Road, Ballymena. Beloved wife of the late Barney, loving mother of Elizabeth, Bernadette, Liam, and Rosaleen a devoted grandmother and great grandmother. Funeral strictly private. The cortege will leave Henry's Funeral Parlour, Broughshane Street, on Tuesday 9th June at 12.30 pm to Ballymena cemetery. This is an opportunity for her neighbours and many friends to pay their respects and show their support for the family while adhering to social distancing. Lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family and family circle at home, U.S.A., Worthing, and Waterford. Our Lady Queen of Peace prays for her," the notice of her death read, according to Daily Mail.
It is not known if the Taken actor will be able to go to Northern Ireland from New York as there are travel restrictions in place currently. The actor is no stranger to tragedy as he had lost his wife, Natasha Richardson, 11 years ago after a skiing accident in Canada.
The Love, Actually actors' mother had been unwell for a few months after she had a fall, and had been recovering in nursing homes, first in Ballymoney and then in Ballymena, according to Belfast Telegraph. Kitty was a former school cook and her husband Bernard had been a school caretaker. He had died in 1988.
"He's probably on a plane now," said one local man who knows the family. "He really loved her, absolutely adored her." The Schindler's List actor had spoken about her in 2016 and said, "She gets annoyed if she can't walk to Mass on Sunday morning, and I just think, 'Mum, you're 90. It's OK! God will forgive you'."
The former school cook was also very fond of her son. She had once traveled to Dublin for an award ceremony to collect a prize on Liam's behalf in 1998. She was proud of her "shy" son's success and said, "He was such a quiet lad, I never knew it would turn out like this. I love people. I love talking. Not like Liam. He got his quiet ways from his father." She had also met other actors like Gabriel Byrne and Jeremy Irons.
She added that she had not known that he would go on to become a successful actor. "He went to university but that didn't suit him. I didn't know much about it when he started acting. All I know is that he works very hard," added Kitty. She used to visit him often at this huge farm in New York state.
The Star Wars actor was the only son among four siblings and the family was described as "close-knit and God-fearing," according to Daily Mail. In his biography, Kitty had said that she was "protective" of her only son. "I still fret about Liam. Tell me, what mother doesn't worry about her children? You bring them into the world, you want the best for them and you worry about them. It's human nature. He's whatever he is, but he still my son," she had said.
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