A few years ago she moved into a unit next to her son at Fenton Park - so he could look after her - but he has since died. She still lives there, cooks her own meals and bakes - often between knitting garments, gardening or walking around her neighbourhood.
Knitting is one pastime she learned as a child.
"Everyone learnt it at school and my mum did knit too ... it's soothing," she said.
Her only surviving sibling, Cecilia (Cissie) Garner, 92, and great-niece Diane Pritt have travelled from the Lakes District in England to help celebrate her birthday.
Longevity is not new in her family - her older sister Minnie died aged 98 in 2008.
Miss Garner said her sister had always been an avid knitter. "She's a beautiful knitter."
She thinks she looks great for a centenarian too. "She will live to 110."
Grandson Scott Brown said while her hearing may be slowly going, a recent eye check proved it wasn't failing.
"She reads the newspaper every morning ... her eyes are still very good. I took her to the optometrist and she read the bottom line without any problem."
Staff from the Woollen Mill put on a luncheon for Mrs Brown yesterday. Manager Diane McGowan said if they ever forgot to drop wool off to her for the next batch of hats, she'd be on the phone reminding them. "She is one knitting machine," she said.
Meanwhile, she has received birthday cards from the Queen and John Key acknowledging her milestone.
