A WOMAN whose physical and emotional strength inspired her family passed away six days before her 102nd birthday.

Phyllis Rose Crake, a resident of Sycamore Lodge, in Spennymoor, died peacefully on Saturday, April 4.

Her granddaughter Helen Crawford said: “We were really grateful she died so peacefully, she was a lady who had never had anything the matter which is amazing.

“She was my absolute hero and an inspiration to the family.

“She was feisty and loving, very strong both physically and emotionally and was very modern and outward looking.

“She was just an incredible woman.”

Mrs Crake, originally from Harrogate, moved to London when she left school to work in service.

While working in the capital, she met future husband, Albert, and after they married in Kettering in 1937 they settled in his native North East, moving to Spennymoor in 1943.

She worked at the pit canteen at Dean and Chapter Colliery, in Ferryhill, and later at the Smart and Brown factory, in Spennymoor.

She has one daughter, Sylvia, two grandchildren, Helen and Michael and four great grandchildren, Will, Peter, Hannah and Abigail. Her youngest brother, Allan Radcliffe, 88, still lives in Harrogate.

On her 100th birthday, Mrs Crake told The Northern Echo she owed her longevity to a long line of strong women, a loving family, clean living and hard work.