THE niece of a ‘kind, gentle and smiling lady’ has paid tribute to a centenarian who spent her life in Uttoxeter.
Gladys Street passed peacefully away on September 9 of ‘old age’ after reaching the grand age of 100.
Her niece Elisabeth Mountford paid tribute to her aunt who loved to socialise with her friends and was popular among the town’s residents.
Mrs Mountford said: “She was a kind, gentle and smiling lady who knew a lot of people in Uttoxeter.
“She used to enjoy having a cup of tea with friends at the various cafes, she was very sociable. She was known by many people as she was a kind lady and never caused any trouble.
“Gladys was helped very much by the people in society as she got older.
“Uttoxeter was a familiar place for her to be and she felt comfortable in it.” Miss Street was born in Draycott in the Clay and during her working life she lived with a local family and cared for the children while doing bits and bobs around the house.
She loved working with children and started out as working in what was then known as domestic service and was also an under-nanny, who used to help the nannies look after the children.
The pensioner never married but had a young man when she was in her 20s who was ‘the love of her life’ but sadly he died of pneumonia.
She said she would have married him if he had lived.
Miss Street was a member of the Uttoxeter Methodist Church and used to attend church with her brother Tom Street, who died when he was 96, although she was unable to attend in later years she always kept her faith and loved watching Songs of Praise.
Mrs Mountford said: “About four years ago she became very ill and was admitted to hospital. We thought we were going to lose her.
“She went to Kirk House Residential Home where they nursed her back to health and she had another four years.
“My aunt enjoyed going on the trips with the home and joining in the activities she was capable of doing. She loved going out.” For her 100 birthday last October, she had a party at the nursing home, which was attended by the then Uttoxeter mayor Allan Chapman, and Miss Street joined in with the singing of Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer Do.
Mrs Mountford added: “She didn’t like people knowing her age really although she enjoyed getting a letter from the Queen and her party in the afternoon.
“Gladys is the last of her generation in our family and will be sadly missed.
“Gladys will not be forgotten, for to remember brings to mind the serenity of her smile and with that happy thoughts.” Miss Street’s funeral will be held at Uttoxeter Methodist Chapel at 11am tomorrow followed by a burial in Uttoxeter Cemetery.
