Centenarian George Welch has died.

The 101-year-old widower, who lived most of his life in St. George's, passed away on December 7 while visiting relatives in Memphis, Tennessee.

Last night his niece Esther James-Liverpool said Mr. Welch was "at peace" when he passed.

Tomorrow she will return his body to Bermuda to be buried alongside his wife Mable in St. George's. He and his wife had no children.

"He wanted to be put to rest at his family's grave, next to his wife," said Mrs. James-Liverpool.

"It's going to be a very sad Christmas as I was hoping we would have this Christmas together, but he died peacefully. He did not have any major illnesses, it was just old age, the natural progression of time.

"He was not in any pain, he just stopped breathing, so you can't get any more peaceful than that."

Mr. Welch made headlines after his former caregiver swindled him out of tens of thousands of dollars.

Gaynette Holder was jailed for 12 months after she "plundered" his bank accounts and moved her family into his home, relegating him to a downstairs apartment at the back.

The 47-year-old also stole Mr. Welch's belongings including watches and cuff links. She admitted 13 counts of theft amounting to more than $32,000.

Prosecutor Robert Welling told Magistrates' Court that Mr. Welch's dementia made him "an easy and vulnerable target".

He said that over the period Holder looked after Mr. Welch, his life savings of $110,000 were reduced to less than $20,000.

Mr. Welch, a former marine pilot, was originally from St. Vincent and had no living relatives in Bermuda.

Mrs. James-Liverpool said he was the first black warden of pilots in Bermuda, an achievement he considered "one of his major accomplishments".

"He was very proud of that and so were we," she said.

She told this newspaper she did not feel the court case had had a detrimental effect on her uncle's health.

"The care and mistreatment, and whatever he lived with for nine months until I got back to Bermuda, that affected him.

"But it was mostly psychological more than having a long-term physical impact."

She continued: "For the last year of his life I shielded him from the trial. He knew what was happening but I didn't really tell him the details of the trial, as I did not want to rob him of his peace.

"He knew the outcome and that she (Holder) was punished. I told him, 'She did not get away with stealing your money'."

Mrs. James-Liverpool said: "He had a very long and wonderful life. At the time of his death he was at peace and content about his life.

"There's so many people who loved and respected him. He was humble and was very much about his family and friends. He was always someone I could turn to, who would support me and give me the best advice.

"At this point we're just moving on to celebrate the man he was and to honour his memory."

Mr. Welch's funeral service takes place this Saturday at St. Peter's Church, St. George's. Friends are invited to donate flowers or to make contributions to Bermuda charities in his name.