A "matriarchal" nan who will soon celebrate her hundredth birthday taught her large family to always be "strong, independent and to have a huge heart".
Sarah Benjamin will celebrate the landmark birthday after one hundred years of "wonderful memories". Her family told the ECHO she continues to inspire them daily as she lives independently just outside the city centre.
Sarah's granddaughter Lorna Rudzinski called her "the heart and soul" of the family and her house near the Baltic Triangle is the "community" space where everyone meets. The 99-year-old, who turns 100 on Tuesday, October 25, was born in the nearby L8 community as one of six children.
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Sarah's first time away from Liverpool was when she was called up as a wren to serve her country during WW2. Sarah, 21 at the time, was based in Scotland and loves sharing her memories of the experience with her family, such as how she was taught to drive by American soldiers.
Sarah experienced a devastating loss during the war when her brother John, known as Jackie, died aboard the SS Robert L Holt after it was torpedoed by a German U-boat. Following the war, Sarah's focus turned to supporting her community wherever she could and became highly respected through her charity work and her role in her parish church St Vincent's.
She still enjoys going to the bingo and is a huge music fan with a particular love of the 60s, 70s and 80s. She is also a massive Evertonian and says her claim to fame was when she met Blues legend Howard Kendall. Even as she approaches her hundredth birthday, Sarah continues to watch her beloved Blues whenever they're on TV.
But it's her role as the inspirational matriarch that Sarah has taken the greatest pleasure in. Her family includes seven children, 17 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Her granddaughter Lorna told the ECHO : "Known to her grandchildren as Nanny Benj, she is the heart and soul of our family.
"During her younger years, she was firm and kept a tight-knit family. She is an inspirational woman. She is such an elegant and beautiful lady, who means the world to her whole family."
Lorna said her nan Sarah takes great pride in her appearance and her home - a house near the Baltic Triangle which only she has ever lived in. Lorna added: "I cherish the memories I have growing up and being with her every weekend. The sport would be playing loudly on the radio or television driving us mad.
"I loved the sleepovers with my cousins and waking to hear the cathedral bells ringing at the back of her house. I will also forever remember the smells of my nan's wonderful roast dinners."
Lorna said her nan is "like the Queen" to their family and is "such a strong woman without even realising it". Lorna said Sarah's message to her family has always been to "be strong, independent and proud". She added: "We love her with all our hearts."
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