Eileen Mary Penn (10 Sep 1932 - 3 Feb 2021)

Eileen was born in Plaistow, East London in Sept 1932. She had a happy childhood, despite not seeing much of her father due to his months of hospitalisations and convalescence after being gassed in World War 1. She felt her loss deeply upon his death when she was just 10 years old.

She learnt to play the piano and loved going dancing with her friends at Ilford and East Ham Town Hall. Following 4 years intense study at night school she became a very proficient shorthand typist, first working at a travel agent in the City where she met her husband-to-be Terence.

She later secured a position at the Chamber of Shipping and became heavily involved in Parliamentary matters.

Upon Terence's completion of his 2 years National Service they got married in Oct 1955, spending their honeymoon in Malvern.

Son Michael arrived in 1958 and daughter Debbie in 1962.
The family moved to their first house in Barking in 1959, later moving to Leigh in 1971.
Eileen was delighted when her grandsons were born - David in 1988 and James in 1991, and also when she subsequently became a great grandmother on the birth of Kiera in 2012.

Eileen and Terence enjoyed a very happy marriage and were grateful to be able to celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in Oct 2015 with a cruise to Madeira and Grand Canaria.

Sadly Eileen was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Dementia that same year. In addition Terence required urgent open heart surgery for Coronary Artery Disease in 2017 and was later diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. By 2019 it became necessary for Eileen to go into residential care for 24 hour supervision. She lived happily amongst new friends and carers at The Brambles for 18 months, sadly passing away just weeks before Terence was planning to join her in the care home.

Eileen will be remembered for her radiant smile and her love of life. She was loved by all who knew her and had a deep desire to make people happy. She loved walking and in times of better health she and Terence enjoyed their many walks around Leigh together.
Eileen was only too pleased to offer help whenever needed which is reflected in her many years of service as a volunteer at both the Salvation Army and Mencap charity shops in Leigh. She was very popular with the countless customers she came into contact with. In fact she was able to continue volunteering for Mencap even with her advancing dementia and this prevailed as one of her strongest memories right up to the end of her life.
For this reason we have chosen Mencap for donations in loving memory of Eileen's long-term service at the Leigh charity shop.

Despite the sad progression of her illness Eileen never lost her cheery smile and her love of tea and biscuits.
She will hold a treasured place in our hearts forever.