Edith trained as a nursery nurse at technical college, gaining the NNEB qualification, and joined the Williams family as Nanny to Jacqueline, a job that took her with the family to America. Later on she returned to Northamptonshire as Nanny to Colin and Sarah Gee at Paulerspury. It is a tribute to Edith that the families she worked for still called her Nanny and treated her with much love and respect right to the end of her life. She was one of the old school of nannies, firm but fair. Nanny always knew best.

During her years at Paulerspury Edith learnt to ring bells and through this pursuit met her future husband George, after their marriage moving to Helmdon, Falcutt and then back to Helmdon. Edith was a devoted wife, and mother to their son Roger, but also found the time to throw herself wholeheartedly into the life of the village. She worked as a dinner supervisor at the school, was Akela to the village cub pack, and a staunch member of the Women's Institute, serving as President and singing in the W.I. choir. The church was central to her life and she was involved in every aspect, from ringing the bells to cleaning the brass, sewing kneelers and teaching the Sunday School. She was a very strong-willed lady with a definite sense of right and wrong. If she believed in something she would move heaven and earth to achieve that goal. She also had a quick wit and a lively sense of humour.

As time went on, sadly Edith's health began to fail and she underwent several major operations, always bouncing back with her indomitable spirit, full of life and fun.

Her later life was deeply shadowed by tragedy. First her husband George died in 1989 after a long period suffering with Alzheimer's disease, through which Edith nursed him with her usual care and patience, and then only 14 months later her life was shattered when her beloved son Roger died suddenly, leaving a wife Janet and two young children, Alicia and Tom. Though outwardly she "got on with life" she never really got over this dreadful loss.

Again ill health dogged her in the form of renal failure and she was forced to spend much time in the Churchill Hospital Renal Unit at Oxford. Thanks to their skill and care she was able to enjoy several more years of active life. She moved to a sheltered bungalow in Greens Norton to be nearer her niece Sarah, whom together with her brother, Richard, and their father she had taken under her wing when her twin Kathleen died in 1971.

Edith is sadly missed by all who knew her. She will be remembered not only for her devotion to her family and her service to the community but also for her broad smile and laughter and her fortitude in the face of adversity. Her family would like to thank all those who made donations in her memory to the Churchill Renal Unit, raising the magnificent sum of £1,040.