A FORMER nurse who turned 100 earlier this year and served in North Africa and Italy during the second World War has died.

Mary Stevens died peacefully at the Priory House residential care home in Prestatyn on Sunday, October 27.

The youngest of three girls Mary, who was born in Failsworth, a town in Greater Manchester, used to holiday in Dyserth with her parents, three brothers and two sisters during the 1930s.

The family moved to Elderslie, in St Asaph Road, Dyserth, and in the 40s, Mary purchased a bungalow in Lower Voel Road.

The former avid reader, who used to love her knitting machine, trained at the Manchester Royal Infirmary and after her wartime service with the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QA), where she rose to the rank of captain (senior sister), she worked at the War Memorial Hospital in Rhyl as Senior Orthopaedic Sister.

Following the war 1966, Mary married major Steve Stevens, with whom she had had served with in the QA’s and who went on to served with the army medical corps, latterly in Far East theatre.

The couple never had children, and Mary moved to the Priory House in September 1994.

A spokesperson for the Priory House said: "When Mary came to us she became a much loved member of the home, both by staff and residents.

"She was a real character and always had plenty of stories to tell.

"Mary will be sadly missed. "

Mary - who was registered blind - was also an avid music lover and had a fondness of the Proms season. She used to regularly travel to the festival held in Hay-on-Wye.

While at the Priory House, Mary celebrated her milestone 100th birthday on Friday, April 26 surrounded by friends, family and a Lieutenant Colonel in full dress uniform.

Mary's funeral will take place at the St Asaph Crematorium on Friday, November 15 at 1pm.This will be followed by refreshments at Bod Erw Hotel in St Asaph.

The family are accepting donations for Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Association's Chester branch. Donations can be made to the Regimental Secretary at QARANC HQ, Robertson House, Slim Road, Camberley, GU15 4NP.