HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a 'much-loved' family member who sadly died aged 102.

Eleanor Annie Stephenson (Nellie) was born in Little Urswick in August 1918.

Mrs Stephenson had two 'long and happy marriages' to Horace Scott, of which she was married for 38 years, and John Richmond who she was married to for 23 years. The centenarian sadly died on April 2 at Furness General Hospital.

Her cousin, Barbara Bennett, described her as 'much-loved by a wide circle of friends'.

"She was indomitable right until the end," Mrs Bennett said.

"She really looked after herself and her house, and baked right up until she was 100 years old.

"She grew up with a big garden and her parents owned pigs, chickens, geese - so although the war was very hard, they never went hungry. She was always well looked after.

"Aunt Nellie was such a strong woman, right until the end. There was no question of her going into a home. She was very generous and would help absolutely anybody. She felt it was her role in life to help other people."

Mrs Stephenson worked in the service during her younger years before joining Low Furness Primary School as a dinner lady.

"That's how all the people in Urswick knew her," Mrs Bennett said.

"Although she didn't have any children of her own, she loved looking after the children at school.

"It meant so much to her."

Family friend Ray Wilson knew Mrs Stephenson his whole life, describing her in his eulogy as 'a true country girl with pure rurality circulating in her veins'.

He said: "Nellie was Urswick through and through. As she, her parents and husbands would all recognise her, Nellie was an Ossick lass and proud of it.

"An individual who had a mind of her own; a strength of personality well able to deal with the overbearing and wearisome.

"A girl, young and old lady, who retained throughout her life a truly individual, distinctive and charismatic character.

"She embodied the qualities and accompanying sense of pride in the rural culture of her early life; but sadly, felt the pain of its gradual extinction as the post war soloist.

"Nellie lived through many demographic and social changes in Urswick life, and has on occasions wept in sadness about the changes she has lived through.

"Nellie, you will be sadly missed, but you leave us with an enduring memory of the real, colossus and endearing character that you were."

Mrs Stephenson's friends and family are hoping to hold a memorial in her honour once the Covid restrictions ease this summer.