A retired matron who cared for people with learning difficulties during her career has died, aged 85.

Jeanne Robertson worked at the former Mount Home, in Delamark Road, Sheerness, and had battled a long illness.

Tributes have been arriving at her Victoria Street home since news emerged she had passed away.

Jeanne had been matron of the home, which closed in 2016, until retirement, and had regarded the residents in her care – young people with learning difficulties – as her second family.

Friend Bel Austin said: “Matriarch of her own family, Julie, Gary and Danny, she was a much-loved mother, grandmother-of-six, including a step-grandson, and great grandmother-of-13 including two step-great grandchildren.”

Jeanne was born in Sheerness and was the eldest of four children.

On leaving school, aged 14, she took temporary jobs including messenger girl at HM Dockyard, until old enough to join the WAAF and served for more than four years.

She was to remain passionately concerned with the welfare of service personnel up to the present day via Help the Heroes.

She had met first husband, accountant Don Galletly, on base and after marrying in Sheerness in 1956, lived first in Leeds before settling in Hamble, Southampton.

Widowed in 1977, Jeanne later met and married aircraft technician Brian Robertson, moving with him to Saudi Arabia until his death.

Returning to Sheppey, she used her caring skills within the community and nursed widowed mother Dorothy Hancock.

She travelled extensively, and in latter years made her home with daughter Julie and grand-daughter Chloe.

She also loved line dancing, was a member of Sheppey Senior Fellowship, and enjoyed days out with Sheppey Matters and her “gang” Bel, Sylvia, Joan and Pat.

Her funeral will be held at the Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing, on Friday, September 24 at 2pm, followed by a celebration of her life at the Woolpack Inn, Iwade.

Family flowers only. Donations to Help the Heroes, via Havill Funeral Services in Halfway.

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