Monica Budge is MHA’s oldest retirement living resident when it comes to living independently with just a little support from care staff as she marked her 106th birthday.
Monica lives at Assisi Place, a retirement living scheme in Hunslet, Leeds, which enables her and other residents to live independently in their own homes, while secure in the knowledge that help and support packages are available if they need them.
Family members, residents and staff as well as director of chaplaincy and spirituality, Chris Swift gathered to wish Monica a happy birthday and present her with flowers on behalf of MHA. Monica said at the end of the celebrations: "Today has been lovely - I have been thoroughly spoilt."
Monica was born in 1913, before the start of the First World War, in Burnley, Lancashire, and has seen many changes in her lifetime. A keen dancer, Monica used to go dancing four times a week and only stopped at the age of 83.
She met her husband, Edmund, through her love of dancing. He was a saxophonist in a dance band and they met after Monica had to go back to a venue as she’d forgotten her handbag. To her surprise, he asked if he could walk her home.
They married in 1936 and had a daughter. Monica now has two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Sadly Edmund died when he was 54 after 29 years of marriage.
