ONE of Felixstowe's oldest residents has died at the age of 102.Suffolk-born Kathleen Paternoster - who liked to be called Kay - moved to her weekend cottage in the town 43 years ago after the death of her husband and was heavily involved in community life.

By Richard Cornwell

ONE of Felixstowe's oldest residents has died at the age of 102.

Suffolk-born Kathleen Paternoster - who liked to be called Kay - moved to her weekend cottage in the town 43 years ago after the death of her husband and was heavily involved in community life.

She was involved with the Townswomen's Guild and served as secretary and chairman, and choir mistress, taking a choir to the Royal Albert Hall in London where they were awarded a prestigious prize.

She was also involved with the Felixstowe Mother's Union as their secretary.

Mrs Paternoster, who died in Ipswich Hospital, was born in Wickham Market on August 27, 1904, during the reign of King Edward VII while her parents were on holiday from London. Her father was a Scotland Yard detective and her mother came from Wickham Market.

Friends said she had a great zest for life and took on challenges with relish.

The family moved to London after 1918 and Mrs Paternoster attended college there, gaining a music degree and a place in the Royal Academy of Music. She also studied maths and shorthand typing, which gained her employment with the French Steamship Company where she was a secretary and took shorthand in French.

She met her husband Sidney at a local youth club and they married in 1928 and five years later had a son Anthony. She has four grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

A funeral service will be held at Maidstone Road Baptist Church in Felixstowe on Tuesday May 22 at 11am.