A WOMAN believed to be Lancashire’s oldest resident has died just days before her 109th birthday.

Emma Brown was described by her family as a woman who ‘lived life to the full’.

She lived through five monarchs, 22 Prime Ministers and was born years before the invention of cars, television and virtually every major discovery of the modern world.

Mrs Brown, a great-great grandmother, died at Abbeyfield House, Clitheroe, last week where she had been living for three years.

She was born in Brierfield in 1900 and after marrying Harry, a potato merchant, the couple emigrated to New Zealand.

They were unable to find work as their arrival coincided with the Great Depression and returned a year later to make their home in Burnley.

They later moved to Whalley following a period living in Wiswell.

Her son Roy, 77, emigrated to New Zealand more than 30 years ago and Mrs Brown travelled twice to see him, the most recent time when she was 90 years old.

He said: “She was a very loving and caring mother and we enjoyed everything about her. She enjoyed life to the full and never complained.”

Mrs Brown had three children Joan, Roy and Doris. Sadly, Joan died four years ago. She also leaves six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

A funeral service took place yesterday at the Clitheroe Funeral Service in Whalley Road followed by a burial at Whalley and Wiswell Cemetery.