A FERMANAGH woman who lived in the same Housing Executive property in Enniskillen for over 60 years has died.

Emily Jane Armstrong (née Montgomery), late of Gortacharn Nursing Home, Lisnaskea and formerly of Andrews Terrace, Enniskillen, passed away peacefully at South West Acute Hospital on Saturday.

She was 95 years old.

A service of thanksgiving, conducted by the Very Rev. Kenneth Hall, Dean of St. Macartin’s Cathedral in Enniskillen, was held in Aghavea Parish Church, Brookeborough, on Monday afternoon.

Bible readings were given by her nephew Irwin Montgomery and niece Amanda Large, while a poem was recited by grand-niece Gemma Montgomery.

The burial service took place afterwards in the adjoining churchyard.

Mrs. Armstrong first moved in to the house at Andrews Terrace, in the Hollyhill area of Enniskillen, in November 1953, when her husband, Douglas, became the tenant.

The couple initially paid a rents and rates charge of 11 shillings and six pence.

When Douglas sadly passed away in 2007, Emily officially took over the tenancy from her husband.

It was officially terminated on June 6 last year, after Mrs. Armstrong became a resident at Gortacharn nursing home, outside Lisnaskea.

The Housing Executive’s South West Area Manager, Oonagh McAvinney, visited Mrs. Armstrong at the nursing home earlier this year to make a special presentation marking the couple’s collective tenancy period in the house at Andrews Terrace of 63 years.

Speaking this week, Mrs. McAvinney said the Housing Executive was “deeply saddened” by the passing of Emily Armstrong.

She said: “Our thoughts are with Emily’s wider family at this difficult time.

“Recently, I was delighted to acknowledge Emily’s life as a Housing Executive Tenant with her nephew David. She was extremely complimentary of her time living at Andrews Terrace.”

The Area Manager added: “Emily will be fondly remembered by anyone who had the fortune to meet her.”

Born in 1921, Emily grew up in the townland of Carrickawick, near Lisnaskea and received her education at Doon Primary School and then Mullinaburtlin School.

She met her husband, Douglas, while she was working as a receptionist at a nurses’ home in Belfast.

Douglas was a train driver for the Great Northern Railway, a service that Emily used frequently to get to and from her work.

The couple initially lived with Douglas’s parents, between Maguiresbridge and Lisnaskea, for a few months after getting married.

They then moved in to a house at Forthill Street in Enniskillen for around six months, before settling in Andrews Terrace, where they spent many happy years together.