THE 88-year-old matriarch of the last original family still living in the Smithfield area of Belfast has been laid to rest.
Annie Torley, née Fields, died at her home on Winetavern Street in the city centre on July 16.
A service was held at Roselawn Crematorium on the outskirts of the city on Tuesday afternoon.
Her daughter Angel (57) said the area around the house "came to a standstill" before the cremation.
"So many of her friends and customers from the shop came to pay their respects," she said.
"People told us so many stories about mummy that we had never heard before, how she helped so many people."
Angel and her sister Brenda (53) lived with their mother on Winetavern Street along with their eight dogs, nine cats and a tortoise.
Mrs Torley is also survived by son Pat (60).
Angel said the family has deep roots in the area.
"My granny was born in the house in 1911," she said.
"Mummy actually died in the room she was born in in 1931.
"We have a photo of my great-granny standing at the front door when there was Smithfield bus station. That must have been in the 19th century."
The family ran a shop from the address for many decades.
Mrs Torley began work as a greengrocer in the 1950s, later branching into different businesses including selling seconds that she bought straight from manufacturers, records and toys.
"When we were kids we remembered the chairs and sofas were piled high with cardigans and coats," Angel said. "She specialised in tights as well and bought them straight from the factory to sell on."
She said her mother lived through huge demographic changes in the area, including the destruction of the old Smithfield market after it was fire-bombed in 1974.
"She was the matriarch of the family," she said.
She added: "She lived for her family."
"She never drank, she never smoked.
"She loved her chocolate. She was a real people person and everyone loved her."
Angel said her mother was one of the main faces in a campaign against the building of Castlecourt shopping centre in the late 1980s.
"All of her friends moved out of the area," she said.
"We are the last original Smithfield family living here."
Ulster Unionist Chris McGimpsey has been a friend of the family for 25 years.
He said Mrs Torley was a stalwart of the area and he often had a cup of tea with the family.
"I was at the funeral on Tuesday," he said.
"She'll be deeply missed."
