Mary Carroll was the long term neighbour of the Royles, the wife of Joe and the mother of Cheryl. Mary sadly died in 2010. From 1998 to 2008l, Mary was portrayed as a cheerful, positive woman unlike her unassertive husband Joe. In the 2010 Christmas special Joe's Crackers, Joe brings Mary's ashes to the Royles household before Christmas dinner and they are placed on top of the telly next to Norma's urn.