‘She had a full life’ – tributes paid to Nancy
The family of 100-year-old Nancy Rooks have paid tribute to the great-grandmother after she passed away.
Justthreemonthsaftercelebratingher100thbirthdayon January 4, great-grandmother Nancy Rooks from Grindon sadly passed away on Wednesday, April 7.
To celebrate her birthday, Nancy’s daughters Brenda and Jean, along with her grandson Steveandgreat-granddaughter Daisy-Mai had isolated so they could spend a small amount of time with her.
Nancy was cremated on April20atSunderlandCrematoriumandherdaughter,Brenda Cunningham from Fatfield in Washington, has revealed that the last year had been difficult on her mum – who just wanted to go out for a Sunday lunch.
The 67-year-old said: “She had a full life and her family was always the main thing to her as she loved spending time with them.
"She would have family gatherings for any occasion or go out for lunch on a Sunday and I think that was the one partoftheCovidpandemicthat she struggled with most.
"I remember her describing it as worse than The Blitz becauseatleastthenyoucould still see friends and family.
"We were looking forward to taking her out on April 12 once the restrictions had eased, but we had a fitting send-off for her despite the circumstances.”
Nancy married Edward
Rooks after the Second World War, with the couple going on to run two fish and chip shops – one on Crowtree Road.
However, Nancy gave up working to raise her family, who she was always there for right throughout her life.
Brenda added: “She was just a teenager when the Second World War broke out and she went to Salford to work on building Lancaster Bombers.
"Itwasaroundthistimethat she met my dad and when we have been clearing out her belongings,weoundtheveryfirst letter that he had sent to her.
"It was so lovely to see a different side to their relationship.”