A WELL-KNOWN centenarian who lived in the same Benfleet home for nearly 90 years has died.

Rosina Lewis, who was 102, lived in Eversley Road since she moved there, aged 13, from West Ham, London, where she was born.

Mrs Lewis married her husband George in 1930 at St Peter’s Church, in Thundersley, and a year later the couple welcomed their first child Terrence.

Their second child, a daughter, Iris, was born in 1937.

Sadly, Mr Lewis died in 1960. Mrs Lewis never remarried, but was active in her community and got a cleaning job, which she continued until she reached 80.

Her daughter Iris Brinsom, who lives in Delfzul Road, Canvey, said: “We moved to Africa for work and she spent quite a lot of holidays visiting us.

“She rode a horse for the first time over there when she was 82. She was always full of fun and loved shopping trips. Right up until a couple months before she died my daughters took her out shopping.

“They even, a few months before she died, put her on a mobile scooter and gave her a ride on that.

“She loved the family and reminiscing about all the old times. She was just a lovely, friendly person.”

Mrs Lewis died peacefully at her home.

Mrs Brinsom said: “In the end she had carers who were absolutely fantastic.

“She was so well known all over the area.”

Mrs Lewis had five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Her funeral took place at Pitsea Crematorium and her ashes will be buried with her husband’s at St Peter’s Church in Thundersley.