Remembering family birthdays is a problem for some.

But for Kathleen Benn it was never an issue – despite being Nan to 104 people.

She never missed a birthday, even making her own cards to create an extra special gift.

Mrs Benn, 98, lived in the Tenterden area for many years and died last Tuesday in an East Sussex nursing home.

Her large family extended to 12 children – seven sons and five daughters – 38 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great-grandchildren.

Granddaughter Shaine Clayson said: “She was an amazing lady and was known to us as Nanny Cake as she was always cooking and whenever you went round to her house, there was always freshly baked cake to have.

"She was extremely happy. Nothing got her down and she had a contagious smile..." - Shaine Clayson

“She was extremely happy. Nothing got her down and she had a contagious smile.

“Her philosophy was, you have to keep yourself motivated and active, and she believed in living life to the full.

“She was very independent and never forgot anyone’s birthday. In her latter years, she made her own cards to make them extra special.”

Mrs Benn and her husband, Reginald, used to live at Shrubcote, Tenterden.

Her husband died about 20 years ago and five years later, Mrs Benn moved in with one of her daughters, Sylvia Hubbard – Mrs Clayson’s mother – at The Chennells, High Halden.

She moved to a home in East Sussex four years ago.

Mrs Benn lost her eldest child, a son, when he was five.

She featured in KentOnline's sister paper the Kentish Express in 2009 when five generations of the family – all female – got together at High Halden.

They were Mrs Benn, Mrs Hubbard, Mrs Clayson, her daughter, Amanda, and granddaughter Abby.

The funeral will be on Friday, June 19, at 12.15pm at St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden, followed by a brief service at Charing Crematorium.

Afterwards, the family we will return to The Tenterden Club to celebrate her life.

Mrs Clayson, who lives at St Mary’s Bay, said: “It will be a big service. I expect we will fill the church on our own!”

Mrs Benn married her husband, Reginald, on June 9, 1935. They lived for many years at Maytham Wharf, Rolvenden, in a tied cottage and both worked on a farm as they raised their family.

Later they moved to Shrubcote, Tenterden, and Mrs Benn worked at West View when it was an old people’s home.

In her later years she became a cleaner at private houses, carrying on into her 80s. Mr Benn worked as a greenkeeper at Tenterden Golf Club.

Mrs Benn was an avid knitter for charity right up until she died, supporting the air ambulance and crises in third world countries.