Edith (Pat) Francis (20 Nov 1921 - 8 Jan 2015)

Edith (Pat) Francis
of St Ives and Ramsey
Passed away peacefully, aged 93 years, in Cromwell House Nursing Home, Huntingdon, on Thursday 8th January 2015. Beloved Mother of Colin and Brian and a dear Mother-in-law, Nanna, Great Nanna and Auntie. Pat will be sadly missed by all of her family and friends. Her family only said farewell to her at Cambridge Crematorium on Thursday 22nd January 2015, followed by a Service of Remembrance for family and friends at St Ives Methodist Church. She wanted no flowers but wished for donations, if desired, to The Alzheimers Society.

Born on 20th November 1921 in Lambeth, London she was the youngest of 4 children of William & Annie Arbuckle.
She married Leslie Head in 1938 and had 2 sons, Colin and Brian. In 1944 the doodlebugs forced her to leave London and join her husband who was in the RAF at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. They lived in Cambridge for a while until Edith and the children returned home to Bellingham, S. London. After the war ended and relative normality set in, she went to work for J Lyons & Co rising to the post of Manageress of a teashop. In 1953 her marriage failed and she settled down with her new man, Walter (Wally) Francis. She changed her job to work with him on London Transport as a 'clippie'. He was her driver for much of the time. She retired from that job in 1982 after 26 years. After a while they moved to St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, to be near her son, Colin. She settled in very well and loved her new life. But she still needed to keep busy and had a job in Slepe Hall Hotel, St. Ives, for years. She joined the Darby and Joan Club, St. Ives Wednesday Club, worked at Help the Aged charity shop, helped at St. Ives Day Care Centre. She involved herself in local matters and served on the Residents Committee of the local Housing Association, making herself known to many. She also called the Bingo every Friday where she lived; all of this in her 70s and 80s. She was never happy unless she was helping someone in some way. She was a regular worshiper at St. Ives Methodist Church and found great comfort in her later life within this community.
She loved dogs, (and nearly always had one), gardening, dancing and cooking, especially cakes and pies.
Shortly after her 90th birthday she developed an ulcerated leg which started 3 years of declining health and fitness, finally resulting in her passing away peacefully at the age of 93 on 8th January 2015.
She will be sadly missed by all her family and friends and has left us with many happy memories.