Tributes have been paid to one of Wrexham’s oldest residents who has passed away at the age of 102.
Great-great-grandmother Gertrude Jones was born in 1917 when the First World War was at its height, Buffalo Bill Cody died and Houdini performed his buried alive trick has celebrated her 102nd birthday.
She died at Pendine Park’s Hillbury Care Home where she had lived for the past seven years.
Her 90-year-old little sister, Gwen Davies-Barrett, is also a resident at Hillbury where the family held a small party February to celebrate Mrs Jones’ 102nd birthday.
Mrs Jones’ birthday cake was decorated with the number of days she has been alive – 37,255.
She was born in Lowestoft but moved to Wrexham as a child and married Herbert Lee Jones who was a maintenance worker at Wrexham’s army barracks. The couple had four children.
Remarkably, she volunteered at Wrexham’s Nightingale House Hospice until she was 92.
According to the former Sunday School teacher, when she was interviewed when she was 101, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes were among the secrets of a long life
Daughter Kath Teburi said: “Mum live a remarkably long life and, although she had a few ups and downs this year, she was doing well until recently.
“She was very happy when her sister Gwen moved in because it meant they could see each other every day.
Kath said: “Dad and mum were married for 49 years and just missed out on their golden wedding celebration as dad passed away in 1989.
“Of their children I’m the youngest, then there’s my two brothers Neville and Jim and we had a sister, Eileen. Mum now has 11 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and just one great-great grandchild.
“It was just lucky that my grandfather moved his family, including my mum to Wrexham as he got a job in the town all those years ago. They lived in Salop Road. Mum went to the National School but that’s now called St Giles.
“She was also a Sunday school teacher for many years at the chapel in Talbot Road but that was when she was much younger.”
She added: “Cindy Clutton, the manager at Hillbury House, and all the staff are fantastic and mum didn’t want for anything.”
Daughter-in-law Jackie Jones said: “She always loved bingo and was a regular at the Mecca in Wrexham. She also enjoyed crochet and crosswords too, simple things really. But she would do anything for anybody, she always had such a lovely nature
Hillbury manager Cindy Clutton said: “We were deeply saddened by Gertrude’s passing and our thoughts are with the family, particularly her sister Gwen.
“She was very popular with both residents and staff and it was a privilege for us to be able to look after her. She was a very special lady.”
