The family of Margaret Elizabeth Engel have paid tribute to her life.
A renowned cake decorator, her cakes were works of art.
Margaret Elizabeth Engel, who died on April 18, was the eldest daughter of the late Jim and Florrie McCarten, of Church Road, Seaton.
Margaret was quiet about her own achievements. She was a great secretary in the National Deposit Friendly Society, Workington doing shorthand, typing and accounts, and was a welcome sight as she travelled around Cumberland by bus to hand-deliver insurance payments when people were off sick.
Her visit would have brightened up their day with her beautiful smile, easy manner and her care for people.
Margaret gave up work when she married but she never stopped learning and went to many classes; art, French, literature, dancing and of course cake decorating.
She came from a family of bakers – her grandmother, mother and aunt ran the Seaton bakery in the house next door from the 1900s – Margaret mastered the art of ‘running icing’ at evening classes.
An avid reader of the Guardian she had concern for people all over the world; commenting on Gaza and Ukraine as well as local issues and was concerned about fairness and equality in society.
If it was difficult to find anything cheerful in the news she always liked to see pictures of flowers and frocks, endangered species being saved and Princess Kate.
Her close friends were always important to her and she kept in touch decades later with the ‘young mums’ she first met in Whitley Bay.
Her more recent friends and neighbours were also always in her thoughts and she had a monthly phone call from her 100-year-old friend Millie and cards from Jennifer, who was a toddler when they first met and is now a mother of three!
Friends from the local church and Catenian group were also important and she delighted in news from St Patrick’s, Stockton, and being kept in the loop with her old parish.
This was particularly so when her own declining years made a move to the Oak Hall Care Home, Haslemere, Surrey, with her husband Manfred and for them to be near her daughter, Barbara and son-in-law Bob and son Anthony and daughter-in-law Annitta, imperative.
Her niece Nicola said: “We have such fond memories of Margaret. She was the quintessential English lady and so much fun to be around.
“She also brought a very special sparkle to any family occasion of which there were many. She will always have a very special place in our hearts and minds.”
On their 50th wedding anniversary Margaret wrote to Manfred: “How much do I love you. Let me count over 50 years of being together, being so happy and never wanting any other person in my life and having such a wonderful and loving husband. Love you till the end of time.”
On May 15, family and friends gathered at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Haslemere for Margaret’s requiem mass, followed by cremation.
Donations to the Royal Osteoporosis Society would be gratefully accepted.
