POSITIVE thinker Edna Cook has died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 102.

The Adver celebrated Edna’s 100th birthday with her on January 26 two years ago, when she was the centre of a party at Ladymead Care Home care home attended by family and graced by a card from the Queen.

The former chemist’s worker continued to enjoy life to the full at the care home for her remaining two years, but died on February 26.

Her great nephew Marcus Cole travelled from the Midlands to see her two days before her death.

“We had a call from the home saying she was deteriorating,” he said.

“She was effectively comatose and in bed when we arrived,” said Marcus, 59. “She wasn’t in any pain and she didn’t suffer any illnesses related with old age.

“I just think she had very good, clean living. She hardly ever drank, other than the odd sherry at Christmas. She never smoked.

“It was really down to her attitude. She was just positive and brilliant, everyone loved her. “She supported family whenever they were in trouble. She was quite remarkable really.

“She didn’t seem to have a bad word to say about anybody. She had a lovely disposition.”

Edna, nee Boyce, was the youngest of five children. She worked for the Timothy Whites chain until she married Sidney Cook on August 20, 1938.

But when the war started she went back to work at the chemist, which later became Boots, and did not retire until 1972.

She moved from Davis Street to Grange Drive in 1958 and lived there until 1995 when she moved to sheltered accommodation in Brain Court, in Stratton.

She had been living in Lady-mead Care Home since April 2006.

“I have very fond memories of Swindon at my auntie and uncle’s house in Stratton St Margaret,” said Marcus.

“There was always a very strong bond between the families in Swindon and Birming-ham.” said Marcus.

“As she got older her memory did start to fail her. There was evidence of slight dementia, but I don’t think she was ever quite the same after her husband died.

“They had been married 61 years. They had been childhood sweethearts at the age of 14. Sid died in 1999. She was widowed for quite some time.”

The funeral service for Edna will take place at Kingsdown Crematorium on Friday, March 14 at 11.15am. Family flowers only but Donations to Cancer Research UK would be appreciated via Co-operative Funeralcare in Cricklade Road.