Penrith lost a lifelong resident who loved socialising and always made sure she looked her best with the death of Maureen Woodhall, aged 87.
One of three children of the late Norman and Betty Taylor, of Albert Street, she had a sister, Valerie, and brother, Norman.
The family moved to Tyne Close Avenue when Maureen was five.
She attended Penrith’s Brunswick Road and Tynefield schools. After completing her education, she went to work at the Redmayne’s factory in the Castletown area of Penrith, where plastic raincoats were produced.
These were sold by major retailers such as Harrods and exported all over the world. Maureen loved working in the factory and later had many tales to tell of her time there.
She met her future husband, Harry, at Penrith’s old Drill Hall, then an extremely popular dancing venue. The couple were married in 1956, at which time he was serving in the British Army.
They went on to have six children, Janice, Kevin, Michael — who sadly died at the age of 22 — Liz, Carol and Rosemary. The family at first lived at Albert Street and later moved to Brentfield Way.
Maureen worked as a bar lady at a number of pubs in Penrith, including the White Horse and Two Lions, in Great Dockray, and the nearby BBC Club.
After her children had grown up, Maureen worked at Penrith hospital and latterly the town’s post office, where she remained until her retirement.
With Barry suffering ill health, the couple moved to Castle Hill Road and continued to enjoy life together until his death in 2022. Both had a very active social life, being long term members of Penrith’s RAOB Club, in Castlegate, with Maureen active in its Ladies’ Glades section.
They were also members of Penrith Conservative Club for 60 years.
She retained her love of getting out and meeting people into her later years and was known by many as “Nana Mo”.
She especially enjoyed meeting her grandchildren and their friends and called in every week at Penrith’s Beacon Social Club, where she liked to dance and chat with her many friends.
Maureen was always smartly turned out, with clothes, hair and make-up just right. She also wore high heels at all times when going out, including when she attended the Kendal Calling music festival to see Tom Jones — one of the highlights of her life, despite the mud — with her grandchildren making sure she got a place at the front.
Maureen was able to recount many tales of life in Penrith and knew every shop in the town. She enjoyed living life to the full and, being part of a close family, was never on her own.
She is survived by her sister Valerie, Dalston; brother Norman, Carlisle; daughters Janice, Penrith; Liz, Eamont Bridge; Carol, Penrith; and Rosemary, Clifton; and son Kevin, Penrith. She had 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
The funeral service, conducted by the Rev David Sargent, was held in St Andrew’s Church, Penrith. Walkers Funeral Directors, Penrith, had charge of the arrangements.
