Thomas Hennessy was born on 1st December 1872 in Forenought, Killea, Dunmore East to parents Thomas Hennessy and Bridget O’Neill (Neal). In 1895 Thomas founded the original Tom Hennessy& Sons funeral business in Rose Lane, Waterford City and after a while moved to the present premises in Johnstown.
Thomas along with his wife Mary Josephine (nee Cummins) ran a very successful funeral and hackney business for 60 years. After Thomas passed away in 1955 his wife Mary Jo, with the help of her son Tom ran the business until her grandson Thomas took over in 1966. Thomas (Tommy), his wife Mary (nee Furlong) and son Michael (RIP) built the Funeral Home in Johnstown in the 1980’s.