A 'SMALL' family are asking anyone who remembers their beloved centenarian and former greengrocer 'Aunty Bet', to attend her funeral tomorrow (January 20).

After turning 100 in October, Darwen's Betty Crompton died shortly after Christmas following a short bout of Alzheimer's.

Her funeral will take place at Pleasington Crematorium at 11.30am on Thursday and family members are urging anyone who remembers their Aunty Bet to attend and pay their respects.

Betty's great niece, Stephanie Edwards, said: "I'd like to honour my great aunty Betty, known to us simply as 'Aunty Bet', who reached 100 in October.

"She was born and bred in Darwen and along with her late husband, Alf, used to run the local greengrocers together.

"She had a lovely long life, very humble and very loving. She'd never leave the house - even in her 90s - without first combing her hair and putting on her lippy.

"We used to laugh about her speaking 'back to front'. She'd say, let's have chips and fish, butter and bread, or pass the pepper and salt.

"She loved a lie-in, too, after all the early starts working at the greengrocers. I hope she's having the loveliest lie-in now, resting in peace."

Betty was cared for by her loving son, John, who lived in with her throughout the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

Stephanie added: "We don’t have a big family and my aunty’s friends have all long since passed.

"We just wanted to say that if anyone does remember Betty and Alf Crompton of Hector Road, Darwen, or would like to show their respects for a century-old Darwen lassy, they can join us at the crematorium to give Aunty Bet the best send off."