Well-known local resident Lilian Mary Kelly died on November 4 at the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, at the age of 90.
She was the youngest of a large family of Harvey and Annie Bowe from Braithwaite.
Lilian grew up at Lanefoot Farm, Thornthwaite, and won a scholarship to Keswick Grammar School.
Her ambition was to become a teacher, but she had to leave school at 16 to help out at home when her mother became ill.
She later worked as a wages clerk for the Forestry Commission until the birth of her first child. She kept in touch with her ex-colleagues at home and abroad, for many years.
After her marriage to Harry Kelly in 1961, they lived firstly at Rickerby Grange, Portinscale and then Ashtree Avenue where she lived for the next 57 years until moving to Kirklands, Cockermouth, in 2019.
Lilian worked for many years at Four Seasons Foods in charge of accounts.
She was also very supportive of Harry behind the scenes in his charitable work for the RAFA Welfare and the local SVP society.
She was a lifelong lover of music, singing with local WI choirs, Our Lady’s Church and the Keswick Amateur Operatic Society, performing in many of their productions and acted as membership secretary for a number of years.
When she and Harry retired, they spent many hours at the old Crosthwaite Infants School after it was bought by Our Lady’s Church and converted it into the St Herbert’s Centre.
After his untimely death, three years later, Lilian became very involved with Keswick Theatre by the Lake, was bookings secretary for St Herbert’s and registrar for Our Lady’s.
She was also a very proud gran, happy to teach her skills of baking and love of rugby to her grandchildren.
Lilian was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about 10 years ago and after it was becoming more difficult to manage at home, moved to Kirklands, Cockermouth, in 2019.
She is survived by her daughters Judith, of Shap; Clare, of Enfield; and Ruth, of Cockermouth; seven grandchildren and one great-grandson who will remember her great sense of humour, thoughtfulness and immaculate appearance.
