She was born in Patea where her father worked unloading ships at the wharf.
"It was a nice little town, always lots going on in those days but not any more I'm told."
She has lived through two world wars and the great depression but she doesn't think life has vastly improved.
"I don't think people are the same any more. They just want, want, want and only think about money. No one had money when I was young but we just got on and didn't let it ruin our life. I'm very sick of the news now on TV, it's only about wars."
Another daily ritual for Mrs Donald is knitting children's jerseys for the Marton Opportunity Shop.
"I love knitting but the price of wool now is terrible, isn't it? I am quite lucky because my daughter buys it for me."
Before coming to live at Edale, Mrs Donald lived in a council flat in Marton. "But my children were worried about how safe I was because there were a few strange sorts of people living there. I'm glad they moved me here It's very nice, it's very small but it's all I need now "
She is the granddaughter of one of Marton's early settlers, Robert Signal.
On the wall is a large photograph printed on canvas of Mrs Donald and her husband, Harold, on their wedding day in Patea in 1933.
"He was lovely wasn't he? He was a lovely husband always worked very hard and we always looked after each other."
Her birthday was celebrated with a big party at the Friendship Hall in Marton with family. "It was very nice but it was quite hard to hear but everyone was there and I got so many flowers."
Living to 100 was never in her plans, she said. " No, I just kept on going."
