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Centenarian with a zest for life
THE loving family of a great-great-grandmother who died at the age of 100 has paid tribute to her remarkable zest for life.
Fiercely independent Sarah Noble lived through events including two World Wars, saw man landing on the moon and witnessed 18 British Prime Ministers.
She appeared in the Mail celebrating her 100th birthday, on September 9, the ninth of the ninth, 09.
Relatives say the number nine figured prominently in her life.
Born at number 9 Temperance Street, West Hartlepool, in 1909, Sarah – whose maiden name was Gollaglee – celebrated her 90th birthday on 09/09/99.
She died on October 19, at 9pm, at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, from pneumonia.
Her daughter-in-law, Joyce Noble, 68, said: "She was so independent, and determined to do things. She was only little, but she was a strong woman."
Sarah was just five when Hartlepool was bombarded by Germany during the First World War on December 16, 1914.
Tragedy struck the family when, in 1915, Sarah lost her brother Private James Gollaglee, who was killed during the infamous beach landings at Gallipoli. The youngest and last survivor of 13 siblings, Sarah made an emotional trip to Turkey when she was 86 to pay her respects.
She was mum to Charles, nicknamed Sonny, 74, the late Terry Noble, Joyce's husband, Christopher, who she affectionately called Ronny, 72, and Valerie Martin, 62.
Sarah, whose husband Charles Noble died in 1975 from emphysema, was said to be a very proud woman who loved to visit art exhibitions and kept active with ballroom dancing.
She worked at the Grantully Maternity Hospital, and was later a cleaner at the town's abattoir.
Joyce, who lives in Seaton Carew, added: "She was quite witty. She worked hard all her life in menial jobs.
"Work did not phase her. She was a strong-willed, wonderful woman."
Sarah, who lived in Schooner Court, Hartlepool Marina, leaves behind 17 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
Her funeral was held at The Roman Catholic Church of St Joseph, in Hutton Henry, on Monday October 26, and she was buried at the town's Stranton Cemetery.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Saturday 11 February 2012
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