Ethel FlorenceBRIGGSEthel passed away after a short illness on August 11.
Ethel’s life was truly well lived. She was a lady who loved and was loved unconditionally for 101 years by everyone who knew her.
Family was everything to her. Ethel was born to Reginald and Alice Paul at Goodshaw Fold Farm where she was surrounded by the love of her parents and younger brothers George and Donald. She attended Loveclough and then Goodshaw Schools before working at home on the farm and milkround.
In 1945 after a short courtship, she would marry Richard, the love of her life and move to Heightside Farm in Crawshawbooth where they would set up home. Together they would have four children, Mary, Richard, Barbara and Pamela and as a family they worked hard to create a thriving farm before moving to Bottomley Bank Farm in Crawshawbooth and delivering milk all around the local area. As well as working hard, the family enjoyed occasional days out to the seaside which were always days to treasure. The house was never quiet and friends of the family were always present enjoying the company of Ethel and her family. As her children met their future spouses, Ethel welcomed the additional family members with open arms and became a wonderful mother in law to Rodney, Linda, Jim and Keith. As time passed 11 grandchildren would arrive to increase her clan and she has left a true legacy behind in the shape of Peter, Paul, Joanne, Mark, Nicola, Andrew, Sarah, Philip, Matthew, Steven and Hannah and their partners. She leaves them with a host of memories of wonderful days out at the seaside, fabulous Christmas days where she would host for up to 30 people and baking of the best pies and cakes you could ever eat.
After a long and productive farming life, she retired with Richard to Preston before he passed away in 1996. Ethel still drove herself back to Rossendale every weekend to stay with family until she was well into her 90s – keeping her Valley roots very much engrained.
Ethel also leaves behind 24 great grandchildren upon whom she has left her lasting mark – teaching them compassion, love and how to be a wonderful human being.
Ethel will be missed by all whose lives she has touched.
Her funeral will be held at St Mary’s, Goodshaw, on Thursday, August 29 at 10.30am, before being buried and reunited with her beloved Richard at Rawtenstall Cemetery.
Family flowers only please. Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to Alzheimer’s Research and Brain Tumour Research via the funeral directors Johnson, Durning and Woods.
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