We have been sorry to hear of the falling asleep of Sis Doreen Gretton on 9th March at the age of 104 at Eden House.

Although a member of Coventry East since her removal to Eden House about two years ago, Sis Doreen was still very much a big part of the ecclesial family at Forest Road, having literally been ever present for us all.

Eva Doreen Baines was baptised on 11th June 1933 at the age of 16, and had served her Master faithfully for almost 88 years. She was the last of our number who was baptised at the old Mechanics Institute in Nottingham, and other than a short period when she transferred to Dudley in the mid-1930s, during her teacher training, she was a member here for the entire time until moving to be cared for in Coventry.

She married Bro Frank in 1943, and as a partnership they led an active life of service in the ecclesia, in particular using their teacher training to work with the young in the Youth Group and Sunday School, for 50 years until Bro Frank fell asleep, and then Sis Doreen continued that in general pastoral work for the past 28 years on her own.

We have missed her caring manner, her wise council and sharp wit since she moved away, but she will always have a special place in the heart of each of us that was privileged to know her.

Our sister is now at rest and sleeps to be woken by the voice of the archangel when our Lord returns. Our thoughts and prayers are with her two sons Bro Steve and Tim and their families, our own Sis Emily Marshall (her great-great niece) who helped care for her at Eden House, the wider Baines family to whom she remained close to, and to all that loved her and mourn.