One of Fermanagh’s oldest residents has passed away in her 106th year.

Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Johnston died peacefully on January 31, 2021 in the Graan Abbey Nursing Home aged 105. Her daughter-in-law Sue Johnston led tributes on behalf of the Johnston family and said: “When you live a life that long you have you have plenty of memories to reflect on.”

Born on November 23, 1915 in Kilskerry, Lottie had seen many milestones throughout her life and lived through a long period of history. Sue said: “She was born during the first world war, she lived through two world wars and she survived two pandemics.”

Lottie was the last surviving child of 12 siblings born to William Edward James Thompson and Wilhelmina Thompson nee Campbell.

Speaking on the varied and long life that Lottie lived, her family said: “She was variously a carer for her parents, a housekeeper at Crevenish Castle, Kesh and a quality controller at Taylor Woods, checking for faults on the petticoat line.

“She worked in later years at the Mace Grocery store in High Street, Enniskillen - a family business with her brother-in-law, Frank Thornton, her sister Willa and sister in law Dolly, along with her good friend, Beth Achison.”

Speaking of her years on the High Street, Sue added: “She was in charge of the fruit and veg section and being a perfectionist was known to have told off any customer caught squeezing the tomatoes too vigorously. She moved shops when Frank took over Home Field & Stream and she retired from there well into her 70’s.

Lottie met her husband and “love of her life”, William James Johnston, at school. Her husband sadly died on December 12, 1946 from meningitis and never got to meet his son Billy who was born on 24 March 1947, the day after the ‘Big Snow’.

Lottie was widely popular across the county. She was the oldest parishioner at Rossorry Parish Church and was a popular resident at the Graan care home, when she moved to the home in 2013, her family recalled her insistence in heading to the Graan. They said: “She insisted to the social worker that it was The Graan or nowhere.”

Bill, Sue and the entire family took great comfort in the many tributes and posted to Lottie on social media and the internet. The couple, Lottie’s grandchildren and great grandchildren are based in England and were unable to travel home to Northern Ireland for the funeral due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Lottie’s condition had begun to deteriorate in recent weeks and son Bill had spoke to his precious mother via Facetime two ago. Sue added: “She was her old self, she was just lovely, it was nice to see a small glimmer of the person we know so well.”

The family described her as “small but feisty” and laughed at fond memories of Lottie adding at one point. “You wouldn’t want to cross her; she didn’t mince her words ever.”

Bill and Sue and Lottie’s granddaughters Debbie and Roz and their children plan to return to Fermanagh to have a family celebration to honour Lottie’s life.

Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Johnston was buried in Killskerry Parish Church on Tuesday, February 2. Her funeral was conducted by Rev Phillip Bryson and her eulogy was delivered by Canon Ian Ellis. Funeral arrangements were conducted by Marcus Madill, S.R Elliott Funeral Directors.