Agnes May Dence, 1901–2007?> (aged 106 years)
- Name
- Agnes May /Dence/
Birth
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Birth of a brother
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Death of a brother
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Death of a maternal grandfather
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Burial of a maternal grandfather
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Note: Funeral Notice, Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, New South Wales : 1856 - 1950) Wednesday 6 January 1904 p 2 Article Funeral Notice, Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong, New South Wales : 1856 - 1950) Wednesday 6 January 1904 p 2 Article Mr. Daniel Griffin, one of tho oldest residents of the district, died on Saturday last at his residence, Smith-street, at the advanced age of 90 years, the actual cause of death being senile decay. The old gentleman enjoyed the best of health up to about six months ago, since when he gradually Eight daughters and three sons are left to mourn their loss. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, Rev. G. D'Aroy -Irvine officiating at the grave at tho Church of England Cemetery. |
Birth of a brother
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Death of a mother
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Death of a father
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Death of a brother
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Death of a sister
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Death of a brother
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Obituary
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Note: "Agnes May Dence was born at Bulimba in Queensland on April 24, 1901.Her parents were John Sturtevant Dence and Clara Dence (nee Griffin). "Agnes May Dence was born at Bulimba in Queensland on April 24, 1901.Her parents were John Sturtevant Dence and Clara Dence (nee Griffin). Her mother’s family can be traced back to the convicts - Mary Wade was sentenced to death and later transportation, for taking clothing and selling it for 2d. She was originally sent to Norfolk Island and later came to Sydney. She became Mrs. Brooker, married twice and bore 21 children. Agnes, known more affectionately as Denny, had a sister, Olive Poppy and brothers Bob and Thomas. She also had a twin brother, Alexander George who died in infancy of pneumonia. She and her twin were named after the Duke and Duchess of York who visited Australia. The Agnes is from her grandmother and the May is from Princess May who later became known as Queen Mary (She has always felt that she should have been named Mary). At the age of three her family left and moved to Epping in Sydney where she spent the next 50 years. Dence Park in Epping is named after her father. Denny attended Epping primary school and then her father sent her to “Bedford” which she considered a terrible school as all her friends went to “Meriden” and that was where she would have preferred. They always grew their own vegetables and fruit and her father had a resident gardener at their home “Ukalunda” (Happy Home). Her father owned a meat preserving company, as did his ancestors in England. Her brother suffered badly after having been sent off to war at 18 and as a means of recuperation it was recommended that he take up golf. Agnes joined him in this pursuit and one afternoon tea time the dark haired, dark eyed girl, Jean, struck up a friendship with a golden haired light skinned keen golfer. This friendship endured for decades and both ladies moved to Kenilworth Retirement Home in Bowral in their later years. Whilst playing golf her father bought her mother a car which Denny drove to golf - A Bernam Saloon. He also had a single body made onto a classic chassis for her to get around in. Denny handed in her license when she was aged 95 years old. Her only collision was with a stationary van when she bumped into it. She had been driving for 77 years. Several months after she returned her license it was sent back to her, cancelled, so that she could keep it as a souvenir. Travel was a passion and her first trip was to England in 1919 whilst her brother, Thomas, was still there after the war. He came home on the troop ship and she travelled a little longer before coming home. The family owned a beach house at Palm Beach and every February for fifty years Denny hosted a beach party. The last of these friends passed away only four years ago. It is appropriate that that is where Denny will be having her family birthday party on April 21 when 32 of her nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces and her sister in law, Barbara, will help her celebrate her 100th birthday. Barbara is the only surviving relative of “my generation” said Denny. She lives in Justinian House in Crows Nest. Barbara was happily married to her younger brother, Bob, for 62 years. He passed away four years ago. Denny has known Barbara since Barbara was eight years old. They still keep in touch. The cottage has remained in her family since it was built by her father in 1928. Her father was attracted to the spot as “it was a great place for a picnic,” said Denny. For many years her desire for passion for travel was put on the backburner as she felt her parents were getting too old to be away from. In 1964 Denny and Jean travelled on the Oriana to England, however, their trip was cut short as Jean suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and needed to come home to Killara. At that time they owned a cottage in Moss Vale and as Jean’s sisters were unable to accompany her Denny was asked to stay in Moss Vale with Jean. What started out as a two-year stay in Moss Vale became a 34 year stay. Denny and Jean were the first to sign up for a unit at Kenilworth, Unit 26, even though they were not the first to move in as their unit was not completed until later. They were in that unit for fifteen years. Jean’s sisters are also now at Kenilworth. Every winter Denny travels to Foster to spend a fortnight with her nephew Derek Ian. When Jean had suitably recovered this pair of travellers were off again. They cruised to Japan and Hong Kong in 1970 then in 1971 to England via Hawaii, Los Angeles and then to Southampton. In 1977 they flew to England. Denny visited Jenny daily until she passed away last year. Denny is not one to sit idly biding her time. “I’d go mad if I couldn’t knit or crotchet or read.” Denny summed up by saying that she had quite a happy life with good friends". Southern Highland News on 28th March 2001 |
Death
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father |
1864–1960
Birth: November 30, 1864
— North London, England Death: October 23, 1960 — Gordon, New South Wales, Australia |
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mother |
1865–1953
Birth: March 23, 1865
51
36
Death: October 25, 1953 — Epping, New South Wales, Australia |
Marriage | Marriage — July 23, 1891 — Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia |
10 years
herself |
1901–2007
Birth: April 24, 1901
36
36
— Bulimba, Queensland, Australia Death: December 30, 2007 — Kenilworth Gardens Retirement Home, Bowral, New South Wales, Australia |
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1901–1901
Birth: April 24, 1901
36
36
— Bulimba, Queensland, Australia Death: 1901 — Bulimba, Queensland, Australia |
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1892–1982
Birth: July 21, 1892
27
27
— Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia Death: February 3, 1982 — Newport Beach, New South Wales, Australia |
15 years
younger brother |
1907–1997
Birth: September 22, 1907
42
42
— Epping, New South Wales, Australia Death: February 17, 1997 — New South Wales, Australia |
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1898–1970
Birth: February 25, 1898
33
32
— Cardiff, New South Wales, Australia Death: December 8, 1970 — Epping, New South Wales, Australia |
Birth | |
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Death |
Obituary |
"Agnes May Dence was born at Bulimba in Queensland on April 24, 1901.Her parents were John Sturtevant Dence and Clara Dence (nee Griffin). Her mother’s family can be traced back to the convicts - Mary Wade was sentenced to death and later transportation, for taking clothing and selling it for 2d. She was originally sent to Norfolk Island and later came to Sydney. She became Mrs. Brooker, married twice and bore 21 children. Agnes, known more affectionately as Denny, had a sister, Olive Poppy and brothers Bob and Thomas. She also had a twin brother, Alexander George who died in infancy of pneumonia. She and her twin were named after the Duke and Duchess of York who visited Australia. The Agnes is from her grandmother and the May is from Princess May who later became known as Queen Mary (She has always felt that she should have been named Mary). At the age of three her family left and moved to Epping in Sydney where she spent the next 50 years. Dence Park in Epping is named after her father. Denny attended Epping primary school and then her father sent her to “Bedford” which she considered a terrible school as all her friends went to “Meriden” and that was where she would have preferred. They always grew their own vegetables and fruit and her father had a resident gardener at their home “Ukalunda” (Happy Home). Her father owned a meat preserving company, as did his ancestors in England. Her brother suffered badly after having been sent off to war at 18 and as a means of recuperation it was recommended that he take up golf. Agnes joined him in this pursuit and one afternoon tea time the dark haired, dark eyed girl, Jean, struck up a friendship with a golden haired light skinned keen golfer. This friendship endured for decades and both ladies moved to Kenilworth Retirement Home in Bowral in their later years. Whilst playing golf her father bought her mother a car which Denny drove to golf - A Bernam Saloon. He also had a single body made onto a classic chassis for her to get around in. Denny handed in her license when she was aged 95 years old. Her only collision was with a stationary van when she bumped into it. She had been driving for 77 years. Several months after she returned her license it was sent back to her, cancelled, so that she could keep it as a souvenir. Travel was a passion and her first trip was to England in 1919 whilst her brother, Thomas, was still there after the war. He came home on the troop ship and she travelled a little longer before coming home. The family owned a beach house at Palm Beach and every February for fifty years Denny hosted a beach party. The last of these friends passed away only four years ago. It is appropriate that that is where Denny will be having her family birthday party on April 21 when 32 of her nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces and her sister in law, Barbara, will help her celebrate her 100th birthday. Barbara is the only surviving relative of “my generation” said Denny. She lives in Justinian House in Crows Nest. Barbara was happily married to her younger brother, Bob, for 62 years. He passed away four years ago. Denny has known Barbara since Barbara was eight years old. They still keep in touch. The cottage has remained in her family since it was built by her father in 1928. Her father was attracted to the spot as “it was a great place for a picnic,” said Denny. For many years her desire for passion for travel was put on the backburner as she felt her parents were getting too old to be away from. In 1964 Denny and Jean travelled on the Oriana to England, however, their trip was cut short as Jean suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and needed to come home to Killara. At that time they owned a cottage in Moss Vale and as Jean’s sisters were unable to accompany her Denny was asked to stay in Moss Vale with Jean. What started out as a two-year stay in Moss Vale became a 34 year stay. Denny and Jean were the first to sign up for a unit at Kenilworth, Unit 26, even though they were not the first to move in as their unit was not completed until later. They were in that unit for fifteen years. Jean’s sisters are also now at Kenilworth. Every winter Denny travels to Foster to spend a fortnight with her nephew Derek Ian. When Jean had suitably recovered this pair of travellers were off again. They cruised to Japan and Hong Kong in 1970 then in 1971 to England via Hawaii, Los Angeles and then to Southampton. In 1977 they flew to England. Denny visited Jenny daily until she passed away last year. Denny is not one to sit idly biding her time. “I’d go mad if I couldn’t knit or crotchet or read.” Denny summed up by saying that she had quite a happy life with good friends". Southern Highland News on 28th March 2001 |
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