Stella Urwin, who celebrated her 100th birthday on 12 March, is a remarkable woman with a great attitude to life.

Legally blind, she moved to Maryknoll at St Agnes’ site in Lochinvar Place 18 months ago, Stella considers herself to be very fortunate.

Born in Bendemeer, near Tamworth, on 12 March 1920 to Eve and Arnold Osborne, Stella had one older brother Blair (dec), who was five years her senior.

She lived on her parents’ rural property until she was 21 when she married Bill Weir (a 2TM Radio Announcer) and moved to Tamworth around 1941.

“I had to wait a while to marry Bill because it was Wartime – the wedding was postponed a couple of times but when we eventually married, we managed to rent house in Tamworth, which was wonderful,” says Stella.

“In those days married women did not have a career as such, so I worked in our home as a housewife – that’s the way it was then.”

During the war, Bill was in army but was stationed in Sydney rather than overseas, so Stella moved down to the Big Smoke and lived in Bondi.

When the war ended, things were in short supply. Rather than return to Tamworth the couple stayed in Sydney, where Bill found work at 2CH Radio Station.
In 1947, at the age of 27, Stella had her only child, a boy, Greg who is now 72 and living away in Western Australia.

“The most exciting thing for me at that time was when we managed to buy our own home at Five Dock, right on the water, in about 1950,” says Stella.

“It was just heaven! We lived there the rest of our adult lives.”

In 1977, Bill passed away when Stella was just 57. She remained in Sydney for 15 years after his death, moving to Port Macquarie around 1982 when she was 72

“I chose Port Macquarie because we had been holidaying and calling in there for many years and it had always appealed to me,” Stella reminisces.

“This is where I met and married my second husband Odin Urwin, who passed away 7 years ago.”

“We had wonderful 20 years together – it was one of the best times in my life – he was a real gem!”

Stella was driving right up until she was 97 when her eyesight began to deteriorate due to macular degeneration.

“I’d always been an outdoors person – I used to play tennis and golf and go walking, especially in the early morning, but all that became difficult when I lost my sight due to macular degeneration so 18 months ago I made the decision to move to Maryknoll.”

It’s a decision that has proven to be a good one for Stella.

“I am really happy at Maryknoll; I am well taken care of; and the staff are very kind and good.”

“What I enjoy most about living here is the way I am being treated.”

When asked the secret to her longevity Stella laughs and says, “I wish I knew… if I did I’d bottle it!”

“Even though I have had ups and downs in life, I consider myself to be very lucky.”

Stella celebrated reaching her milestone 100 year on 12 March with a few family and friends at a morning tea catered for by the St Agnes Parish Food Services’ Marion Centre.

Mindful of social distancing and the Coronavirus restrictions, she had a celebration of a different kind last week during Maryknoll happy hour with a cake donated by Bell’s Bakery.

“While I am missing the visits of my friends, I am grateful for what I have and hope everyone stays safe,” concludes Stella.

Stella has 2 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild, Billy, who is 2 ½ years old.

Grateful, happy and wishing for everyone to stay safe, Stella Urwin enjoys happy hour at Maryknoll to celebrate her 100^th birthday.