North Bay woman to celebrate her 105th birthday

North Bay woman Helen Bryer will celebrate her 105th birthday Dec. 7, and her daughter, Doreen Bryer, shared some details of her life with CTV News Northern Ontario. (Supplied)

North Bay woman Helen Bryer will celebrate her 105th birthday Dec. 7, and her daughter, Doreen Bryer, shared some details of her life with CTV News Northern Ontario.

The daughter of immigrants from England, Bryer had a twin sister, Violet Ivy, who passed away a year ago. Her early life was filled with heartache. She and her twin sister were the youngest of seven children born to Jerry and Matilda Thurston.

Her birth name was Lily Rose Thurston and her parents moved from England to Sudbury, where her father set up shop as the local blacksmith on Larch Street.

"Unfortunately, her mother Matilda died from kidney disease when the twins were 4 1/2 years old, leaving their father to raise seven children on his own," Doreen said in an email.

"Within a year another tragedy struck when their father fell off the barn ladder while carrying a wagon wheel up to the loft. He died a few days later."

The four older boys were sent to northern farms to work, their one older sister worked as a house helper and the twins were placed in an orphanage.

"After several foster homes, they were adopted into different families, Violet Ivy to the Andress family and Lily Rose to the Duncan family, who changed her name to Helen," Doreen said.

"The twins were in the same class at school, mom now with a new name, but sadly went home to two different families."

All seven siblings kept in touch over the years. Helen is the last to survive.

"Mom moved to North Bay as a young woman, met Newt Bryer and married on Aug. 14, 1947," Doreen said.

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She has four children, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

"Mom still plays her favourite piece on the piano, The Woodpecker Song," Doreen said.

"She tries to read music but as her eyesight isn’t that good, it is difficult. She lived in her own home until this February, after celebrating her 104th birthday in December at home."

She now lives with Doreen and her son-in-law, Karl.