‘Amazing’ Mabel dies aged 102

THE sister of a well-known Oldham businessman has died peacefully at the age of 102.

Mabel Shortall was the sister of Harry Skidmore, who owned and ran Skidmore’s cycle shop in Union Street.

Mabel died peacefully at her retirement home in Massachusetts, America.

Mabel and Harry lived above the shop during the 1930s and 1940s.

They both ended up making their way to America: Harry to Canada in 1949 and Hollywood in 1952.

During World War II Mabel fell in love with US soldier John Shortall, and after they married in 1942 left for Boston in 1945. John died in 1977, aged 68. Childless, they are survived by brother Harry’s children Barry and Janaire, her only relatives following her her brother’s death at age 100 in 2011.

Janaire said: “She was an amazing lady. She lived independently until September 2014, when we moved her into an assisted living complex.”