A much-loved great-grandma described by her family as someone who "would help anyone that needed it" has celebrated her 104th birthday. Stella Anderson, a resident of Ferguson Lodge Care Home in Benwell, Newcastle, was born on August 30, 1922.
A birthday surrounded by loved ones
Stella - who only moved into the home when she was 99 years old - celebrated her birthday on Sunday in style and was surrounded by friends and family members who had travelled from across the country to join in on the festivities. Staff at Ferguson Lodge Care Home wanted to "make sure the celebrations are perfect for her to celebrate her incredible life" and arranged for a singer to attend the party.
A life of caring
Born in Fleetwood, Lancashire to parents both from fishing families, Stella was raised with her sister, Monica, who lived to 102 years old. Having moved to the North East in her younger years to help care for a very close friend as a nursing assistant, Stella ended up staying in the region after meeting her husband, Alan.
The couple set up home in Walbottle village and welcomed daughters Anita, born in 1954, and Christine just over two years later. Working as a home help for almost 25 years, Stella worked mostly in the local area and spent a lot of her working hours caring for elderly people in Westerhope. Her family says when she retired from the home help service, she continued to work privately for a number of years cleaning until well into her 70s.
Family tributes
Speaking of their mother's kind nature, Stella's daughters Anita, who lives in Scotland, and Christine, who lives in Guernsey, said she is "very much a carer as she then would help anyone that needed it in Walbottle village". They added: "Mam loved going to church in Throckley and the bingo in the village. She is a much loved grandma by her five grandchildren and recently welcomed her first great-grandchild, Daisy."
After sadly losing her husband Alan, who died aged just 69, Stella lived on her own until she was 99 years old. Her daughters added: "At that time she was being cared for by carers coming in four times a day.
"When that service ceased, her family realised she needed full-time care hence the move to Ferguson Lodge - initially causing her family much anxiety when she declared she did not want to go!
"However, it didn’t take long for her to settle in and four-and-a-half years later, four very worrying stays in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Stella has now reached the amazing age of 104!
"Ferguson Lodge has given mum the very best of care, well loved by both staff and other residents and she considers it her home and has done so for a very long time now."
