Mrs Vera Pearce Great Grandmother Vera Hetty Gabriele Pearce died at her home in Arundell Close in Westbury aged 90 on September 16, after suffering with a lung condition for many years.

Mrs Pearce was born in Bromham, on September 29, 1922 and was the eldest of eight children, growing up with brothers Dennis, Maurice, John, Ray and Les and sisters Vicky and Mary.

She went to school in Bromham until she was 14, before going to work in the kitchens at Lackham House in Chippenham. She continued working there until the war broke out.

Mrs Pearce had originally hoped to join the RAF, but she was unable to do so due to medical reasons and ended up joining the Land Army instead, where she did field work in Dorset and Wiltshire.

She met her husband Jack Pearce, who was working in logistics in the RAF, during her time in the army and they went on to marry in 1947 at Devizes Register Office.

After the war, they moved to Dilton Marsh and both began work at Boulton’s Glove Factory in Westbury, with Mrs Pearce working as a glove maker and her husband as manager.

They had two children, Andrew in 1952 and Jane in 1956, as well as six grandchildren and 10 great-grand children, with one more on its way.

Mrs Pearce had a number of hobbies, including cross stitch, knitting and gardening and she also enjoyed going on walks with her husband and their dogs around Wiltshire.

She was also a keen cook and cake baker, and would always cook a big roast for her family every year on New Year’s Day.

A few years after her husband’s death in 1992, Mrs Pearce moved to her bungalow in Arundell Close.

She is described by her family as having a dry sense of humour and being very matter-of-fact and pragmatic, a caring and compassionate woman who loved looking after her family.

Her funeral will take place at West Wiltshire Crematorium, Semington, on October 2 at 11.30am.

Family flowers only, but donations in her memory can be made to the MS Society and Dorothy House.