Family and friends said their final farewells to a much-loved Lanarkshire centenarian as the theme tune of her favourite soap played as a backdrop.
Catherine Thom, who was known as Cathy and spent the last three years of her life living in a Wishaw care home, died on March 30 at the incredible age of 105.
She was such a fan of Coronation Street that her family chose the TV programme’s tune as her exit music. The iconic tune from Corrie - the world’s longest running soap - served as a fitting parting note for someone who had lived so long.
Cathy was close to her nephew Jim Watson and his wife Isabel, who live in Law Village.
Isabel told Lanarkshire Live: “She always loved Coronation Street and we thought she’d appreciate it.
“She started watching it in black and white a way back.
"She used to have two televisions and would have them both on as Coronation Street was on at the same time as the other soap, she’d have that on one and the other on the other so she could watch both at the same time."
Isabel was at Cathy’s side in the days and hours before her death but had popped home for a short time when she passed away.
“I think she waited on me moving out the door,” Isabel added.
“We used to take her away different places at weekends.
“She was really great at 105 and did exceptionally well, but she deteriorated so quickly. She even organised the funeral herself.”
Originally from the Gartsherrie area of Coatbridge, the centenarian, featured here on Lanarkshire Live back in December when she reached her 105th birthday, and was once again the recipient of a birthday card from the Queen.
Staff at Kirkfieldbank House in Kirknowe Care Home described her then as “just brilliant”.
In December 2020 Cathy also made headlines when she was amongst the first care home residents, and one of the oldest in the country, to receive her first COVID-19 vaccination – which coincided with her 104th birthday.
Born in 1916 as World War One raged across Europe and just weeks after the Battle of the Somme ended, Cathy had already lived through the Spanish Flu pandemic as well as two world wars.
Incredibly Cathy continued to live independently up until the age of 102, but in recent years her sight deteriorated.
She never married, but went into service at the age of 14, working as a nanny for most of her life looking after other people’s children.
She brought up three siblings whose parents were lawyers, they remained close throughout her life and continued to visit her right up until days before her death.
She was also an aunt to a niece and two nephews, and her wider family included dozens of great; great great; and great great great nieces and nephews.
Angela Logan, staff nurse at Kirkfieldbank House, said: “She was a lovely person and she will be missed by the residents and staff. She was doing brilliantly considering she was 105, and was still up walking about a few weeks ago.”
Celebrant Natalie Stevenson, who conducted Cathy’s funeral at Holytown Crematorium, also paid tribute to her on social media:
“All my love to the family of the incredible Catherine Thom," she said.
"Cathy made her mark in this world for an amazing 105 years.
"A lady that was fiercely independent, even living on her own until 102!
“She was an absolute character! Polite, giving, direct, comical and marched to the beat of her own drum! She also adored Corrie, to the point that the theme was her exit music. How loved she was.
“Thanks again to the family of Cathy and Kenny at Coop Funeralcare in Wishaw.”
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