The peaceful and unexpected death of Mrs. Isabella Ann Johnson (Bella) of Main Street, Lack, on Friday, September 18, was a shock to her family and the community. She was 95 years old and enjoyed good health right up until her death.

Bella was born at Stranahone, Lack, on June 3, 1920, the second of four children of James and Minnie Weir. She was educated at Lack P.S. and after leaving at the age of 14 she helped out on the family farm as well as pursuing her other skills of dressmaking, embroidery and cooking.

In 1946 she married Jack Johnson and they set up home on a farm at Colaghty until semi-retirement in 1983. She was a devoted mother to their five children and loved to have her family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends to visit.

In later years she had a great recall of past events, faces in old photographs and a love of poetry. Bella loved to travel, visiting Canada six times, South Africa twice, Spain on several occasions, as well as Scotland and England.

She was a woman of a kind and quiet nature who was always willing with a smile to help out in whatever situation arose. She will be affectionately remembered by all who knew her for her kindness, hospitality and great sense of humour.

Bella and Jack both came to know the Lord as their Saviour and her faith in the Lord carried her through many difficult times, being pre-deceased by daughter May (Gordon) in August 1984; son Victor in April 2011 and husband Jack in 1995. She also lost her brother Alfie and sister Eva.

She was laid to rest at Tierwinney Methodist Church graveyard after a service in Colaghty Parish Church (kindly granted), conducted by Rev. Eleanor Hayden. The hymns were: Loved with Everlasting Love; Brightly Beams our Father’s Mercy and The Lord’s My Shepherd. The organist was Mrs. Olive Rowe and readings were given by Rev. A. Irwin and Gareth Rooney.

She is survived by daughters Audrey and husband Edwin (Lisbellaw); Florence and husband Derek (Ballynure); son Rea and wife Estelle (Virdew, Canada) and son-in-law Stanley and wife Charlotte (Churchill). She also leaves a sister Elsie Thompson (Kesh); sister-in-law Elsie Andrews (Enniskillen); 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

She will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by her sorrowing family and wider circle of friends.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by F. G. McFarland and Sons, Letterboy Road, Kesh.