There was a funeral today for Ena Mitchell at Trinity Church in Abingdon. She lived to 105.

She was born in 1918 and grew up in Hampshire.

She married Bill in 1939, but he died from wounds in the army in Belgium in 1944, eighty years ago. This left Ena alone to bring up their daughter.

Ena moved to Abingdon in 1954 when her daughter got a place at St Helen and Katherine School. Ena needed to find work and worked as a traffic warden and receptionist at the Oriel Hotel in Ock Street.

From her own experience, and after helping other war widows, Ena became a founding member of the War Widows Association.

She was actively involved in other community groups including the Royal British Legion, NSPCC, and Royal National Institute for the Blind. She served on committees and went round door to door fund raising.

Ena was also a dedicated member of Trinity Church where many of us met her. She celebrated her 100th birthday there in 2018, surrounded by loved ones.

She subsequently went to life in the Royal Star & Garter Care Home in High Wycombe, a home that looks after veterans and their partners. People could donate money to the Royal Star and Garter at the funeral service.

It was a lovely funeral led by Deacon Selina who told a far fuller story of Ena’s life and faith and service. Her grand daughter came over from Australia to give a eulogy. (The picture shows a recent birthday at the Star and Garter home.)