THE funeral of a well-known and popular Chippenham resident, will take place next week.

Elsie Lavinia McCarthy will be laid to rest at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Chippenham, on Monday, February 3 at 11.30am.

Mrs McCarthy, 95, of Park Lane, Chippenham, died on St Stephen’s Day at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, following a nine-week stay. She retained her endearing strong character, sharp wit and charm.

Elsie leaves three sons, Eugene, Charles and Thomas, a daughter Noreen, and two grandchildren, Liam and Ryan. Lavinia and John, the first and third born of her six children, sadly died around the time of birth.

Mrs McCarthy was born the youngest daughter of Edith Cridland. She was brought up in Christian Malford and left school at 14 to go into domestic service with her sister Mary.

She later worked at the Nestle factory in Chippenham, making products such as condensed milk. She used to cycle to and from Christian Malford to work in Chippenham.

Her son Tom said: "If mum was lucky, she would get a lift on one of the passing gravel lorries.

"Mum could recall a bullet passing through one of the factory windows, and bombs dropping behind the house at Christian Malford during the Blitz."

In the early 1950s, Elsie met her husband, Jeremiah, when socialising at village dances in Lyneham and Dauntsey.

Mr McCarthy had moved from Ireland following service in the Irish Army, when he volunteered to join the Royal Air Force during WW2.

The couple married on March 10, 1952 at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Chippenham and honeymooned in London and Ireland.

In later life, Elsie obtained a job making lampshades, while Jeremiah spent most of his 45 years working life at Westinghouse in Chippenham.

Sadly, Jeremiah died, aged 84 in May 2006, leaving Mrs McCarthy a widow.

Mrs McCarthy enjoyed making clothes and looking after her own children and those of relatives.

She also had a fine singing voice and loved all things Irish, including folk songs.