Daisy Faucett celebrated her 103rd birthday Monday. Daisy Faucett knew exactly what day it was on Monday.

A more-than-century-old ritual celebrated in the United States and Canada, Groundhog Day has become a means for people to forecast whether the wintry weather will remain or if Spring will soon arrive.

"I know... Feb. 2," Faucett said, "it's Groundhog Day, how could I forget."

While the weather was on the mind of Faucett and several of her family members, it didn't matter whether Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow or not.

The only thing of importance was that Faucett enjoyed her 103rd birthday.

Leading family and friends in singing "Amazing Grace" and "Going Home On The Morning Train," the local woman celebrated another year of life at the Brookview Nursing Home in Gaffney.

"She's not usually a loud person, so it surprised me that she started singing," said Faucett's niece Ruby Aiken. "Everyone could hear her... but that's my Aunt Daisy, she's one of a kind."

Born in 1906 to the late Preston and Charlotte Coleman, Faucett is the third of 12 children. Pieces of the Gaffney woman's childhood are more clear than others, like the time her father helped keep her from a painful whipping.

"My mother was the only one that whipped us, our father never did it," Faucett said. "She had forced me to get a switch, and my father told her she doesn't need to whip us so much.

"After that, I didn't get too many whippings."

Of her siblings, two brothers and a sister are still alive, with the youngest nearing 90 years old.

The local woman made two trips to the wedding altar, the first to the late Mack McConnell in 1926 and her final walk down the aisle in 1973 to Julius Faucett, who passed away in 2000.

Faucett never got the opportunity to become a mother, but in the eyes of her niece Essie Coleman she made up for it by helping raise her family's next five generations.

"She never had kids, but my aunt did everything to make sure we did what was right," Coleman said. "While she was stricter than my mom, she was very protective and took good care of everyone."

As the years progressed, Faucett's nieces and nephews would constantly hear her say, "Things aren't the same no more." Some things remained the same - her love for family, cooking, singing and attention to detail - but others seem to defy standard norms for people her age.

"We've come here and had to find her because she's using her wheelchair to get around," said Coleman. "She's lost a bit of strength in her legs but seemingly none in her arms. That's impressive for someone over 100 years old."

Faucett's family has already started plans for her 104th birthday bash.

"Aunt Daisy's already said she's going to be there," Aiken said, "and I believe her."