Gwen with her family on her 100th birthday
Gwen had her 100th birthday celebration at Summerdyne, surrounded by family and friends.
Her 100th birthday was on Sunday 1st May Sunday. She was delighted to be joined by her son Tony and his wife Hazel, who came from New Zealand to celebrate with her.
Gwen was born in Smethwick in 1916 and was fostered between the ages of six and 10.
She worked as a sewing machinist, married young and had three sons.
Her son, Alan, said: “When she was 26 she lost her eldest son at the age of six to cancer, her only sister to leukaemia and her husband to a heart attack, all in 18 months.
“She remarried four years later and lived in Bromsgrove until 2014. Her second husband died in 1994.”
Gwen has always been creative, enjoying clothes making, knitting and artwork with water colours.
Alan added:
“Always a hard worker, she did domestic cleaning, served school dinners, hotel waitressing and working a sweet making factory and anything to make her way.”
Her two remaining sons, Alan lives in Kinver with his wife Anne, while Tony has lived in New Zealand since 1984 with his wife Hazel. Gwen has four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A spokesman for Summerdyne Nursing Home added:
“Her party got off to a good start with our entertainer who got everyone singing along. Gwen came to Summerdyne two years ago. She has a strong character and is amazing for her 100 years.”