A resident of Sunnyvale since 1922, Freda Kirkish saw the city change over the years from her position behind the counter at Kirkish Dry Goods Store, her family's business on Murphy Street. On Jan. 8, Kirkish succumbed to her old age, one of the rare few who bear witness to three different centuries.

Kirkish was born in Michigan to Lebanese parents, who took her back to their home country for much of her childhood. While her long life span gave Kirkish the opportunity to see a multitude of history-making moments and technological advances, it was this time that she shared the most with her family.

"She loved to tell us stories about her childhood," Henry says. Kirkish told tales about helping her mother on the farm and the tenacity of the nuns at her school. She soon returned to Michigan, where her father had remained to support the family by working as a salesman. There she met her husband, Mike, when he began working at her father's store. The two married and moved to California. "They couldn't stand the cold weather," Henry says.

They started their store in the middle of Murphy Street in downtown Sunnyvale, selling work clothes and dry foods as they raised their family in the storage room on the second floor. Kirkish Dry Goods Store later moved to the corner of Washington and Murphy, where University.com is now located.

Kirkish was no shrinking violet when it came to her family's store. "She was completely my father's partner in the business," Henry says. "They were very active in the city of Sunnyvale." Among many of her club memberships were affiliations with Business and Professional Women and the Toastmistress Club. During World War II, she sold war bonds. She also enjoyed swimming and belonged to a lawn-bowling club in Sunnyvale. Henry also says that once his parents built a house, his mother made sure it had a pool.

After their retirement in 1950, Freda and Mike enjoyed traveling to locales such as Egypt, including return trips to Lebanon. Henry and his brother Robert, also of Sunnyvale, continued the family store until their retirement in the mid-1990s. Mike died several decades ago, but Kirkish remained active in many ways, including as a parishioner at St. Martin Catholic Church in Sunnyvale. She finally stopped driving eight years ago—at the age of 98.

Kirkish leaves behind four sons, Henry, Robert, Edward Kirkish of Chicago and Delano Kirkish of Sacramento, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be sent to St. Martin Catholic Church, 593 Central Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086.