A woman well-known for her life-long love of music has died, aged 90, after a long illness.
Lilian Mary Kelly was the youngest of a large family to her parents Harvey and Annie Bowe, from Braithwaite.
She grew up at Lanefoot Farm, Thornthwaite, and won a scholarship to Keswick Grammar School. Her ambition was to become a teacher but she had to leave at 16 to help out at home when her mother became ill.
Lilian later worked as wages clerk for the Forestry Commission at Thornthwaite until the birth of her first child. She kept in touch with her ex colleagues at home and abroad, for many years.
After her marriage to Harry Kelly in 1961, the couple first lived at Rickerby Grange, Portinscale, before moving to Ashtree Avenue, Keswick, which was to be their home for the next 57 years.
Lilian worked for many years at Four Seasons Foods on Heads Road, Keswick, in charge of accounts. She was also very supportive of Harry behind the scenes in his charitable work for the Royal Air Force Association Welfare and the local St Vincent de Paul Society.
She was a life long lover of music, singing with local Women’s Institute choirs, Our Lady of the Lakes and St Charles’ Church and the Keswick Amateur Operatic Society.
She performed in many of the operatic society’s productions and was membership secretary for a number of years.
When she and Harry retired, they spent many hours at the old Crosthwaite Infants School after it was bought by Our Lady of the Lakes and St Charles’ Church and converted into the St Herbert’s Centre.
After his untimely death, three years after retirement, Lilian became very involved with Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake. She became bookings secretary for St Herbert’s and registrar for Our Lady of the Lakes and St Charles’ Church.
She was also a very proud gran, happy to teach her skills of baking and love of rugby to her grandchildren.
Lilian was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease about 10 years ago and after it became more difficult to manage at home she moved to Kirklands, Cockermouth, in 2019. She died on November 4 at the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.
She is survived by her daughters Judith Taylor, of Shap, Clare Collins, of Enfield, Ruth Hellen, of Cockermouth, seven grandchildren and one great grandson. They will remember her great sense of humour, thoughtfulness and immaculate appearance.
Her funeral will be held at Our Lady and St Charles’ Church, Keswick, on Wednesday, November 17, starting at 11am.
