The Uniting Mirinjani Weston aged care facility resident, described by daughter-in-law Frances as the stalwart of the family, said the secret to living a long life was simple.

"Smile at everyone every day," she said.

Mrs Coble was born in Paddington and grew up in eastern Sydney as one of six children.

The family was raised by their mother after her father died in 1920.

After leaving school she worked as a saleswoman for Farmers, now Myer, before leaving to have her only child, Gary.

She later worked at Woolworths. In retirement, she took up painting, revealing a previously hidden talent. Mrs Coble took lessons, held exhibitions and sold her watercolour and oil landscapes.

Mr Coble said his mother was a dedicated family woman.

"I don't remember her ever being harsh, she was always a loving mother," Mr Coble said.

"She was a lot of fun."

Frances agreed: "She did everything, she just looked after her men.

"She was absolutely kind and sweet, smiling all the time, and was always nice to people."

But Mrs Coble knew how to get what she wanted, the couple agreed.

"She was a stubborn, tough thing," Mr Coble said.

"Not on an aggressive side but sometimes she would say 'I'm not going to do that', that sort of assertiveness, and maybe that's what got her through so far."

Mr Coble paid tribute to the Mirinjani staff for taking care of his mother since she moved into the nursing home about five years ago.

"She was quite frail. We thought we were going to lose her and we didn't," he said.