NURSING auxiliary, sheltered housing warden and great grandmother of three, Ella Boorn, has died at the age of 95.

Ellen 'Ella' Boorn was born in East Ham, London, in 1920 as the only girl and youngest of eight children.

She went to secretarial college at the ago of 16 and got a job in London's West End. In her spare time she enjoyed dancing and according to her daughter, Karen Gaskell's memories, had described how any future husband had to be tall, have nice teeth and be a good dancer.

She met her future husband, Bert Boorn, who met all of her expectations and they were married in December 1940 during an air raid.

They set up their first home in South Wales, but following the arrival of their first son Ken in 1942, and then Robin in 1945, it was decided to return to her parents' home in London. This remained their home until after the war when they moved to Ruislip in 1946.

In 1958 they moved to Poole and although she 'hated the place' at first, things took an unexpected turn the following year when Ella gave birth to a baby girl, Karen.

Ella trained as a nursing auxiliary, juggling work with her commitment to her family and then from 1973 to 1984 she was a warden in a sheltered housing complex. She lost her husband, Bert in 1986, but kept herself busy but continuing to work in a care home until she was 74.

She moved to Hedge End in Southampton in 2003 and her daughter, Karen, said that her mum's warm, friendly and funny personality meant that she made friends easily.

Ella lived with Karen and her husband Keith from 2011 and continued to play a full part in family life, recently delighting in the arrival of a seventh great grandson Benjamin, and her 95th birthday party, with her family and friends around her.

She passed peacefully away at home with her family by her side on January 21 and her funeral took place on February 5 at St George's Church in Oakdale.