Nellie dies at 105

Nellie May Wood on her 105th birthday

One of Oldham’s oldest women has died aged 105.

Nellie May Wood, a great-grandmother, who lived at Park House Residential Home, Queens Road, celebrated her milestone birthday last December.

Longevity is a family trait as her sister Hilda Bradley celebrated her 101st birthday in October and Betty, the youngest of five sisters and two brothers, is 85. Nellie died on Friday at home.

Mrs Wood’s daughter Irene Roberts, from Chadderton, said: “She was always very hard-working but was kind and generous. Although there was never much money, anyone who dropped by always got a cup of tea and biscuit, even the window cleaner. All the neighbours loved her.”

Born in Shropshire, Mrs Wood went into domestic service in Didsbury, Manchester, after leaving school.

She met her future husband, Arthur William Wood, in the early 1930s when he was working selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door. He later worked in the warehouse at Her Majesty’s Stationery Office in Broadway, Chadderton. He died 26 years ago.

The couple married and had a son Tony, who passed away 12 months ago, and daughter Irene.

The family moved to Middleton Road, Chadderton, where Mrs Wood lived until she was 98.

Mrs Roberts said: “When she moved to Park House, she would still go round and do the dusting and water the plants.

Mrs Wood is survived by her daughter Irene, grandchildren Michael Slack, Tim Slack, Deborah Roberts and Nicholas Roberts, and great-grandchildren Vicky Kay, Laura May Ellison and George William Ellison. The funeral will take place at 11.10am on 27 February at Middleton Crematorium.