Death Of Mrs. Nielsen At Age Of 102 Years

Chronicle (Levin), 4 March 1949, Page 5

Death Of Mrs. Nielsen At Age Of 102 Years

AUCKLAND, March 3.' Auckland 's oldest resident, Mrs. Eleanor Eliza Nielsen, has died at the age of 102 years. Noted for. her sprightliness, cheerfulness and full possession of her facuities, Mrs. Nielsen fuily enjoyed the last few years of her life which orought her congratulations from the King and Queen and an honoured place at many functions. A -New Zealander for 84 years of ner iii.e, mrs. JNieisen was oorn in London "just ten mintues walk from Buckingham Palace," and came to this country in the ship Bombay. She intended to stay here only two years but was nearly shipwrecked aoout 300 miles off the coast, and in her own words, got such a fnght that she made up her mind to stay here. Slie worked in hotels at Coromandel for some time, retiring from this to take up storekeeping. She . sang for many years in the choir of St. Matthew's Church and was an eariy member of the Auckland Choral Society. Continually protesting that she did not feel her age, Mrs. Nielsen celebrated her 100th birthday on Gcuo,j-or 28, 1946, by waltzing at a oirtiiday party held in her honour, and attended-St. Matthew's Church on the morning of her 101th birthday. A reporter, interviewing her on the eve of her 102nd birthday, found her curlmg her hair and apologising for "vanity."