Ivy was born on the 17th September 1907 to George and Ada TRUSSELL at Nazeing, Essex. She was the third of six children.

Her parents had previously lived in Tottenham where their next door neighbours and good friends were the PEARMAN's whose son Les was later to become Ivy's husband.

Ivy's father managed a farm at   Perry Hill in Nazeing and that is where she spent most of her childhood. She had many happy memories of her childhood with her brothers and sisters and when she could be persuaded to go down memory lane would reminisce about pushing a cart to Hoddesden market each Saturday morning with her friend Annie Webb to do the shopping. They were give 3d for going, which they spent on aniseed balls and stale cakes; simple pleasures.

She also remembered going to Hoddesden with her father on the pony and trap, a scene far from the frantic pace of life today.

At 14 she started work at BRENT stores on Nazeing Common, working from 8am to 6pm, 6 days a week for the equivalent of 36 pence in today's money.

This was the start of Ivy's ethic of hard work, which was to stay with her for the rest of her life.

She married Les in 1933 and moved to Tottenham. Shortly after her daughter Sheila was born, the family moved to 58 Summerhill Road where Ivy was to spend the next 67 years.

The 2nd World War came and went leaving Ivy and the family unscathed, but with lasting memories of long nights spent in the Anderson air raid shelter at the end of the garden. John and Peter were born in quick succession in the post war baby boom and the family was now complete.

Once the children were at school Ivy went back to work to supplement the family income, principally working for a local fishing tackle firm where she stayed until she retired from paid work. With the children moved away, married and starting their own families, Ivy and Les saw out their retirement together until Les passed away in 1978 after 45 happy years together. This was a tremendous blow to Ivy, initially she was uncertain that she could manage living on her own, but her strong will power and dogged determination, combined with the support of her extended family and some excellent neighbours, enabled her to continue living at Summerhill Road for another 24 years.

During this time she also overcame being mugged, burgled and recovered from a road accident in her eighties where she suffered a broken leg. She never stopped working, whether it was cleaning the house or going to the shops for the 'old lady' down the road and it was only in her latter years she was forced to slow her pace down.

During these years she took great comfort and pleasure from the time she spent with her family, particularly her 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, who all have fond memories of "Nan's bedtime stories, trips to the swings and to the local shops to buy them sweets".

She played the key role in maintaining links with all generations of the extended family both here and overseas and kept everyone updated with the news and events, never forgetting anyone's birthday or anniversary date.

Sadly her increasing frailty and poor health necessitated the move to a residential home for the last 8 months of her life. here she was very well looked after and highly thought of by all the carers. It was in this home that she died peacefully after a very full life of 95 years.

Ivy's whole life was dedicated to and revolved around her family. She was a hardworking and loving wife, devoted and thoughtful mother and grandmother and will be remembered for her strength of character, determination and generosity. She will be missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her.

The following is a favourite verse of Ivy's which was read by her son John at her memorial service.

(Note: This Eulogy and poem has been reproduced for the Internet site from the original written by John Pearman )