A MUCH-LOVED York centenarian has passed away, just over a month short of her 105th birthday.

Patricia May Kew (nee Pilmoor) - who lived with her daughter Judy off Tadcaster Road - was born in Kirkbymoorside on St Patrick’s Day in 1913.

Her father, who died when she was only two, was a barber in the small market town - on Castlegate, where she grew up - while her grandfather had a marine chandlery specialising in supplies or equipment for ships in Crown Square.

The youngest of eight children, Pat met Harry Kew of Acomb, who himself had 11 siblings, in York and the couple married in July 1940 at English Martyrs church, Dalton Terrace in central York - the church where her funeral is to take place.

Harry, who died 27 years ago, was a railway worker, while Pat worked part-time as a sales assistant at Boughs, a fashion shop in Acomb, until she was nearly 70.

She led a full life, enjoying cooking, reading and swimming and had always been particularly active in the church.

Having suffered from macular degeneration for quarter of a century, Pat gradually went blind in her later years, but still went for a daily stroll until quite recently.

She also looked forward to receiving the York Talking News - a local audio newspaper - once a month and was their oldest subscriber.

Talking News newsreader Graeme said: “We know Pat well. We’ve no one else over 100.

“We’ve known her for more than 50 years.”

Pat, who died earlier this month, had a larger-than-life character and in an interview with The Press to celebrate her 100th birthday in 2013, she listed the secrets to her long life as “good home cooking and a little tipple”.

Judy said: “Mum always used to say that she never smoked and she didn’t swear, but she like Irish whiskey - she even had a little tipple while she was in hospital.

“She loved to party - any excuse for a get-together. She was a real people person. Pat’s funeral will take place at English Martyrs Church on Friday, February 23 at 2pm, followed by a private cremation.

Donations if desired are for St Vincent De Paul society, a charity that was close to Pat’s heart. Judy said: “Mum felt it was a hidden charity that did a lot of good work.”