SHE was born in 1912, the year the Titanic sank.
Now, Nora Fitzgerald has celebrated her 103rd birthday with her friends and family around her.
Mrs Fitzgerald enjoyed a private family party on Saturday before celebrating with staff, residents and her family at a birthday bash yesterday at Alexandra Court Care Home in Southcoates Lane, east Hull.
Her five daughters came from as far away as Barcelona, Manchester and Kent for the celebrations.
Lord Mayor of Hull Councillor Mary Glew was a guest at the party, which also featured entertainment from a singer.
Mrs Fitzgerald was born in Selby Street, west Hull, to Lithuanian parents.
Her father, John Whittaker, was a shoe repairer and she had one sister and four brothers.
She said: "It was wonderful. There were plenty of children to play with. We used to play out on the street. It was heavenly."
She met husband Jim when she was 19 and the couple went on to have five girls, Pat, who is now 82, Marion, 79, Margaret, 78, Elizabeth, 73, and Susan, 68.
While working as a seamstress at Banks, sewing the lining into fur coats, she was evacuated during the Second World War with her children to a village near Scarborough.
After the war, they moved back to Selby Street before moving to Longhill where her husband worked on the railways at the docks.
Mrs Fitzgerald ended her career by selling tickets at Craven Park dogs meetings.
She said: "I never thought I would live to be this old.
"I have lived the longest in all my family.
"I'm having a great time at the party."
As the party got going, Nora's family, residents and staff sang Happy Birthday before she blew out the candles on her cake.
Her daughter Margaret said: "It is unbelievable. We never thought she would live to this age. We feel so lucky we have still got her.
"She is a wonderful person. She is beautiful."
When asked what her secret to living such a long life was, Mrs Fitzgerald said: "I always sleep with the bedroom window open."
Cllr Glew chatted to Nora, enjoying a few jokes.
She said: "It's a great pleasure to join Nora to celebrate.
"She has lived a rare and long life and must have seen and experienced some amazing changes both in this city and worldwide.
"She has lived through an amazing century and I wish her a very happy 103rd birthday."
