A family has paid tribute to their ‘miraculous’ mother who died aged 108.
Florence Busk one of the oldest residents in the Aylesbury Vale received five cards from the Queen to mark her astounding milestones before passing away this month.
Her daughter, Pauline Greasby, said her long life may have been down to healthy living and a regular siesta.
Mrs Greasby of Aylesbury Road, Wendover, said: “After lunch she would always go and have about half an hour on the bed lying down to recharge her batteries. She was never a smoker or a drinker. She and my dad loved walking and both rode bikes.
“There were so many times when we thought it was going to be the end but she bounced back. We thought she was going to defy death altogether.”
Mrs Busk died on March 9 at Icknield Court, Princes Risborough.
She received cards from Her Majesty when she turned 100, 105, 106, 107 and 108 and often joked she was ‘old enough to know better’.
Mrs Busk leaves five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and one great, great, grandchild,
“Although I miss mum dreadfully I’m so happy for her because she’s where she wants to be. She had got very stressed and she wanted to go but you have to wait until your time is up.”
Before she suffered a stroke aged 95, Mrs Busk remained relatively independent and only moved into care aged 103. She lived at the Winterton House, Wendover, care home, which closed in 2011 before moving to Princes Risborough.
The oldest girl in a family of 10, she grew up in London, married in 1930, had two children and moved to Wendover 31 years ago to be nearer her daughter.