OBITUARY

MARY GWENDOLINE HANKEY (nee Wait)

Gwen was born in 1919, shortly before her twin sister.  She died peacefully on 24 July, aged 89 years, at the Cedar Court Care Home.

Her family moved from Birmingham to Leicester in 1930.  Gwen was educated at Newarke Girls' School.  On leaving school she started her working life at Stibbe, followed by a job as telephone clerk at Telephone House, on London Road .

Just around the corner from her home on Aylestone Road , Gwen's future husband, Eric, lodged. Their relationship blossomed but marriage had to wait until after the war.  They were married in 1946 at Aylestone Road Methodist Church , and a year later their first son, Ian, was born, followed by Arthur and David. 

The family moved to Cordery Road , Evington in September 1950.  Gwen's life was her family.  When her youngest son went to senior school, Gwen found part-time employment as a cleaner at the Cedars.  Eric “retired” in 1975 and she managed to find him some work there as well!  She also took in typing working for Wildt Mellor Bromley and Samuel Pegg & Sons.

Gwen had a passion for knitting, producing dolls and soft toys, with the proceeds going to the Royal British Legion where Eric had been a very active member of the Evington Branch until it merged with Oadby.

Eric, her husband of 55 years, died in 2001.

Gwen is survived by her three sons, two daughters-in-law, three grandchildren and one great grand-daughter.

She will be greatly missed by us all.

David Hankey