A woman celebrated turning 100 surrounded by her friends and family at a care home in Shenley.

Mena Jannetta was born on July 19, 1916, in Clerkenwell, London, into a family of six siblings.

She was a sergeant in the Women’s Royal Air Force during the Second World War and in 1944 she married Dominic Jannetta.

The couple had three sons and a daughter. She now has seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Mrs Jannetta lived in Aylesbury until she retired back to Islington in 1978. In January 2012 she went to live in the Villa Scalabrini Residential Home in Shenley.

Her daughter Trish Shore said: “My mum loved travelling mainly to Italy and Malta and was a regular tea dancer until she was 92. She still enjoys reading and takes a daily newspaper. She enjoys life at the residential home and receives incredible care.”

“There is a sense of familiarity and community with daily Mass in the Chapel for the residents.

“The party on Tuesday went very well. I want to say thank you to the staff at Scalabrini.”

Mena’s sister-in-law Kay Ferrigno was also a resident at the home where she celebrated her 100th birthday in April 2012.

The party on Tuesday had more than 40 family and friends come to the home to celebrate the special day.