A great-grandmother who survived two world wars and the outbreak of the Spanish flu died within hours of testing positive for coronavirus.
Hilda Churchill had been self-isolating at the Kenyon Lodge care home in Salford, Greater Manchester, for more than a week, but began showing minor symptoms three or four days ago.
Her heartbroken family were hoping she would pull through in time to celebrate her 109th birthday next Sunday, April 5.
But she passed away on Saturday morning, less than 24 hours after being diagnosed as having contracted Covid-19.
Her grandson Anthony, 49, had been planning a special birthday surprise and said ‘the most devastating thing is that we were not able to be there with her in her time of need, when she’s been with all of us through ours’.
‘It’s heartbreaking for us,’ he added. ‘Her birthday was just weeks away and we were all so excited.
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‘She used to say she can’t live forever, but at times it was starting to feel like she would.
‘Not being able to be with her in the last week of her life has just emotionally wrecked me.
‘I think we all need to be more careful. She was a fighter, and she was fine, just mild symptoms.’
Anthony described how Hilda, who never drank or smoked, was in good health up until recently, adding that the active gardener lived alone before moving into the care home 10 months ago.
He planned to get a story in the paper about her being one of the world’s oldest women to put a smile on her face, adding: ‘I wanted everyone to know about Hilda and what a great woman she was, a great mother, wife, grandmother and just person.
‘This wasn’t the story I wanted to get out there.’
Born in 1911, Hilda was originally from Crewe, but moved to Salford with her husband during the recession to find work.
Anthony recalled how ‘she was the queen in our family’ and says ‘we’ve all been left a bit empty’ by her passing.
Hilda was a mother-of-four, grandmother-of-11 and great-grandmother-of-14.
As the death toll in the UK surpassed 1,000 for the first time, Anthony urged others to take the risk seriously.
He added: ‘She’s the only person I know who had coronavirus, and I think it’s until you know someone that you really realise this is real.
‘It breaks my heart to think of all the plans we had for when this was all over.
‘But we’re lucky, at least we have enjoyed everything she had to give to the world for so many years.
‘I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like for families who lost someone young in all of this.
‘We need to all take care of each other and stay safe – because you never know when someone you love is taken away from you in a blink of an eye.’
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