It was her first day on the job at Budd's department store in downtown Kitchener and the other saleswomen seemed unsure what to make of this vivacious British woman. They eyed her as she touched up her hair, her lipstick, and smoothed her stylish clothes.

Quintessentially Cora, she spun around, smiled, struck an exaggerated movie star pose and announced "I can't help it if I'm lovely" before bursting into laughter. It was the perfect icebreaker. Even into her 90s, Cora never stopped loving and living every minute of her life. She left an indelible mark everywhere she went.

Born in England, the eldest of two children, Cora and her father, George Whitaker, a confectioner by day, hit the stage when she was a teenager. They both loved show biz. Cora danced in the follies and could have pursued a career as an entertainer but health problems forced her to seek a less strenuous job. She chose hairdressing and met Thomas Allison, who managed a large salon. The two married and raised three children. Daughter Vicki Williams of Maryhill and Kay Wainwright of England said their childhood was idyllic, with holidays on the beach and on the grounds of old English castles. They especially recall scooting around the countryside in a very small Morris car, which was always packed with family including Cora, Thomas, their children and sundry other friends and relatives. It was quite remarkable how many people could squeeze into this little vehicle, giggled Kay.

In the mid-1960s, their children now grown, Thomas lost his job. Maybe it was time for a change. The couple, then in their 50s, followed their son Brian and daughter Vicki, who had both moved to Canada, married and started families. Even Cora's elderly widowed mother immigrated. Like Cora, Amy Whitaker was always up for an adventure.

Brian was running a lunch counter in Kitchener, where the couple worked until Thomas died only two years after immigrating. Brian sold the business and Cora landed a job at Budd's, which seemed ideal, as she'd worked at dress shops in England and loved fashion. More importantly, she loved people.

"You couldn't come out of the store before you looked good. You had to be the bee's knees to her," Kay said

Vicki describes her mother as "kind, gracious and thoughtful," a genuine lady. Kay laughs at the memory of her mother scolding her should she utter a curse. At age 75, the family took Cora to Disney World in Florida where, according to Vicki, "she was like a teenager there. She was doing all the things the kids were doing."

Cora's favourite expression was "it's a great life if you don't weaken" and she was determined not to weaken. A born dancer, she would stand in front of the hall where seniors dances were held, first waiting to see who arrived. If it looked like a bunch of "old people" Cora refused to participate. Even in her 90s, in the nursing home, she never considered herself elderly and in all the years she lived in retirement facilities, Cora participated in anything going whether it was a bus trip or a dance, hence her nickname the Swinging Senior. Cora was an organizer and loved fitness classes, though she had suffered Bell's palsy and a twisted colon. At least twice surgeons thought it was the end of this feisty senior. Cora always rallied and maintained her sense of humour.

One day, shortly after having her hair done, she fell and broke her hip. As rescuers lifted her, she simply said, "Don't mess my hair -- I just had it done."

With Cora, there was never a moment without laughter.

vhill@therecord.com

Cora Allison of Maryhill

Born: May 21, 1912 in Lincolnshire, England

Died: May 17, 2008, of age-related illness