Vera Ada La Rooy/Coates 1916-2009

Vera Ada La Rooy was born on 12 July 1916, right in the middle of the first world war, to William and Annie (nee Spiegelhalter). She already had a brother William, known as Bill. Vera grew up in Portsmouth where her father had a hairdressing business. She saw her Taylor cousins quite often, though they were all younger than her.

During the 1930s Vera worked as a housekeeper for her uncles Edward, Emil and Joseph at 81 Mile End Road. Vera then returned to Hampshire, going with her parents on to the mainland at Portchester, a small but growing town famous for its castle. During the second world war Vera served in Air Raid Precautions as a telephonist. Living close to the naval base at Portsmouth in wartime had its compensations, giving Vera a large number of potential suitors from which to choose. On 18 March 1944 Vera married Donald Coates, a serving sailor, at the garrison church in the outer grounds of Portchester castle.

Vera and Donald had three sons. Vera also had time to run a sweet shop The Sweet Spot. Two of their sons have married and had children of their own. In all Vera had three grandchildren and so far two great grandchildren.

Vera died peacefully on 20 April 2009 at the age of 92 years 282 days, a longevity record for the descendants of Otto Spiegelhalter. Her husband Donald, a design draughtsman, died in 1991.

The picture with all the begonias shows four generations together. The earlier picture dates from about 1940 and featured on the cover of the memorial service held for Vera at Porchester crematorium.

Vera's long and varied life was the subject of an article in the Porchcester Civic Society Newsletter in 2007.