Death of church stalwart and Advertiser writer Vera

Vera Trimmer (66) died on Tuesday afternoon — the day she had been hoping to set off on her first holiday in 15 years.

The Advertiser district reporter was taken to hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia after attending a blood check a week earlier following heart problems.

Thrybergh church warden Pat Roper said: “Even in hospital, Vera was still planning things for the church.

“I went to visit her on Sunday (29) and we’d had christenings that day. She was wanting to take down the names.

“She will be sadly missed. She did so much, with the church flowers and parish magazine and a lot that people didn’t know about.

“In recent years, she dealt with all the funeral directors and was a big part of the project to renovate St Leonard’s Church.”

Vera, of Bramley — who served in logistics with the Army in Northern Ireland — had intended to take some rare time away and visit nephew David (46) on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland.

He said: “She was looking forward to it and we were looking forward to entertaining her. She was an inspiration to me and would give advice — whether you wanted it or not!

“She was my only aunt, she was treasured in life and will be sorely missed. She was a character, who helped so many people but never spoke about it or wanted praise.”

Close friend Kay Langford, from Dinnington, who met Vera through work 27 years ago, said: “I was the new recruit and could instantly tell her presence there.

“Our friendship just grew from there and she’ll be sorely missed by all family and friends.”

Rev Daran Ward, vicar for Bramley and Thrybergh, said: “When I met Vera for the first time she laughingly said she was the one everyone would warn me about. It was a half-truth.

“She was feisty and determined, and with her military background shining through, she could be depended upon to see a job through.

“But she was also fun and had a softer side. She loved animals, especially her cat. She made us laugh, often making herself the butt of the joke. She was a larger-than-life character and will be missed.”