Mina dies aged 101 after a life devoted to nursing
Published: 10:40, 15 June 2012
A globe-trotting nurse, who devoted many years of service to people on Sheppey, has died aged 101.
Williamina Pettey, or Mina as she was known, died on Tuesday, June 5 in Essex.
The former St George’s Avenue, Sheerness, resident spent two stints as a nurse on Sheppey and also worked in Egypt and Singapore.
She was a member of Sheerness District Nurses, based at Coniston House on the corner of Park Road and High Street, for eight years in the early 1950s.
In the 1960s and 70s, she worked as the practice nurse in The Broadway, Minster, where she served for over 10 years.
Originally from Angus, Scotland, she set up home here with husband Bob in 1945 where they had their only child Ian.
The family moved to Singapore for a number of years before returning to Sheerness.
Following Bob’s death from cancer, she returned in her late 50s to nursing at The Broadway practice.
In the 1990s Mina moved to Essex to be closer to Ian but remained in contact with her many friends on the Island.
Two parties were held in 2010, in St George’s Avenue and Minster, to mark her centenary which were attended by former colleagues.
The grandmother of four and great-grandmother of two continued to live independently despite failing sight and loss of hearing, but broke her hip in a fall at Easter this year.
She was transferred to a care home, following an operation, but she was unable to recover from the trauma and passed away peacefully.
Son Ian said: “She was very devoted and caring to people. In her work life, she was extremely professional.
"She had many friends and was very sociable. She often said that working at The Broadway were some of the happiest and definitely most interesting, times in her nursing career.”
- The funeral is June 21 at 11am at the South Chapel of Southend Crematorium, Essex. Her family request donations to DeafBlind UK. Any readers who would like to share memories can write to the family via Co-operative Funeral Care, Spa Road, Hockley, Essex or on 01702 207518.
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Gemma Constable