Nightingale Hammerson celebrates the life of remarkable lady aged 108
Mary Van Gelder was one of only 27 people in the UK to reach 108
Born in London on 22 October 1917, Mary Van Gelder’s life spanned more than a century of change. As one of only 27 people in the UK to reach the age of 108, she was an inspiration and a beacon of warmth and resilience.
Mary spent most of her life in Stoke Newington, working as a dressmaker in her brother’s factory in Hackney which she loved making dresses. Although she was very young during the First World War, she still remembered the sound of bombs falling on the city.
Mary attributed her extraordinary strength and perspective on life to a simple yet profound philosophy: to accept life’s ups and downs with grace and dignity.
“Living kept me going,” she said. “You must keep living even when the going gets tough. The Second World War was very hard for me and my family. It was five long years. I had a daughter, but she died tragically at 42. After my daughter died, I had to keep going. I couldn’t let myself go to pieces.”
Mary arrived at Hammerson House in October 2023, just two weeks before her 106th birthday.
“I realised it was too much for me to look after myself, so I decided to move to Hammerson House,” she said. “I’m happy here, this is my home now. I can relax and I know I will be looked after. It’s very jolly here and I like the quizzes, I do really well in the quizzes!”
She enjoyed taking part in activities and playing Scrabble with her fellow residents. Household. She was proud she didn’t have to use hearing aids or wear glasses. Until her final weeks, she was still sitting in the lounge, always with a smile on her face, always made up and always kind and sweet to everyone she met.
Mary became something of a poster girl for Nightingale Hammerson, featuring in advertisements and campaigns. Her vitality and spirit embodied everything the homes stand for.
She died peacefully in the early hours of Sunday 26 October, surrounded by family and the devoted care teams who adored her. Just the day before, she received a card from His Majesty the King, celebrating her achievement on reaching such an impressive age.
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