SheilaTOWLERMRS Sheila Ann Towler passed away peacefully at home in Hollins Lane, Accrington, surrounded by her loving family on Monday, December 14, aged 88. She grew up at Hoyle Bottom, Oswaldtwistle and attended St Mary’s School. Her father passed away when Sheila was just two years old and she grew up with her mother Elsie, and her two older sisters Mavis and Peggy. Her mother’s good friend Janie Clegg was a big part of her childhood and like a second mother to the girls. Leaving school aged 14, she worked as a weaver at Three Brooks Mill, Oswaldtwistle. After raising her family, she worked for 25 years for JT Lloyd Cosmetics, both in Church Street, Accrington and later in the Arndale Centre. In 1948 she met her husband Brian, when she was just 16 and he was 18. Apart from a two-year separation when Brian did National Service in the RAF, they were together for 72 happy years. They married on May 8, 1954, at St Paul’s Church, Oswaldtwistle, a marriage which was to last 66 years until her passing last week. Sheila was a keen dressmaker and loved making clothes for her children and friends. She could make anything. She even made her daughter’s wedding dress. As a young teenager she collected autographs of Hollywood movie stars, which she collected by writing to the studios. When her children were small, she and Brian enjoyed camping holidays in Spain, where they made friends with people from all over Europe. They enjoyed many holidays abroad, especially their visits with her sister Mavis and brother-in-law Bob to the old city of Jerusalem, where Sheila loved visiting historic places she had learned about in school. For many years Sheila assisted her husband Brian stewarding the Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club annual charity walk. Sheila leaves a husband Brian, daughter Pauline, son Stephen, grandchildren David, Rebecca, Emily and Luke, and great-granddaughter Charlotte. She was a much-loved friend to many and will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Her funeral was held at St Paul’s Church, Oswaldtwistle on Wednesday, December 23, administered by Rev. Martin Joss, followed by her cremation at Accrington Crematorium. Donations, if desired, are requested to the NSPCC or North West Air Ambulance. Funeral director: Hyndburn Funeral Services, Accrington.
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