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World’s oldest skydiver dies after record-breaking jump

<p dir="ltr">Just weeks after becoming the oldest person to complete a tandem skydive, 104-year-old Dorothy Hoffner has passed away. </p> <p dir="ltr">On October 1st, the Chicago native <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/retirement-life/104-year-old-woman-becomes-world-s-oldest-skydiver" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broke a world record</a> by jumping out of a plane with a professional skydiver. </p> <p dir="ltr">Her incredible display of bravery captured global attention, with her amazing feat being recognised by the Guinness World Records association. </p> <p dir="ltr">Less than two weeks after her historic freefall, Dorothy passed away peacefully.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement to <em><a href="https://people.com/inspiring-104-year-old-woman-dies-1-week-after-becoming-world-oldest-skydiver-8349727" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a></em> magazine, Skydive Chicago and the United States Parachute Association confirmed the news of her death. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We are deeply saddened by Dorothy’s passing and feel honoured to have been a part of making her world-record skydive a reality,” the statement read. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Skydiving is an activity that many of us safely tuck away in our bucket lists. But Dorothy reminds us that it’s never too late to take the thrill of a lifetime.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are forever grateful that skydiving was a part of her exciting, well-lived life.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Her legacy is even more remarkable because of the attention the world gave to her inspiring story.”</p> <p dir="ltr">According to a close friend of Hoffner’s, Joe Conant, the Chicago record-breaker passed away peacefully in her sleep. </p> <p dir="ltr">He also told the <em><a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-dorothy-hoffner-skydive-chicago-obituary-20231010-bebci7alezdvnmrc4advc7lnm4-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chicago Tribune</a></em> that despite her 104 years, her death was unexpected.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It came as quite a shock,” Conant said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She gave an incredible amount of her spirit and life to all of us, and it inspired all of us.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: ABC 7 Chicago / Skydive Chicago</em></p>

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Are these the top 5 TV families of all time?

<p>Are these the top 5 TV families of all time? Whether dysfunctional or picture-perfect, fictional families have taught us that anything is possible with the support of a loving family. What is your favourite TV family of all time?</p> <p>Whether dysfunctional or picture-perfect, fictional families have taught us that anything is possible with the support of a loving family. What is your favourite TV family of all time?</p> <p>Join our countdown of the top 5 TV families!</p> <p><strong>1. The Bundys (Married With Children)</strong></p> <p>With his half-baked wife, ditzy daughter, nerdy son, annoyingly perfect neighbours and unrealised professional football dreams, it’s no wonder poor old Al Bundy barely cracks a smile throughout the ten seasons of Married With Children (1987-1997).</p> <p>His career as a shoe salesman also irked the unconventional father figure, but we fell in love with this unlikely family unit nonetheless, and their flaws only made us adore them more. Oh, Al!   </p> <p><strong>2. The Fletchers (Home and Away)</strong></p> <p>The enduring Fletcher family has been roaming the streets and surfing the waves of Summer Bay for decades. The best known of the Fletchers would still have to be Sally (Kate Richie) and her adopted parents Pippa (played by Vanessa Downing and Debra Lawrence) and Tom (Roger Oakley).</p> <p>The foster-parents-come-caravan-park-managers with seemingly endless love and room to spare encountered a multitude of trials and tribulations but always managed to keep the family together, even after Sally called a mentally unstable murderer “a real psycho” or when she discovered her imaginary friend was actually her twin brother.</p> <ol start="3"> <li><strong> The Clampetts (Beverly Hillbillies)</strong></li> </ol> <p><em>"Come and listen to my story 'bout a man named Jed </em><br /><em>A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed </em><br /><em>And then one day he was shootin' at some food </em><br /><em>And up through the ground came a bubblin' crude </em><br /><em>Oil, that is. Black gold. Texas tea…”</em><br />A ragtag bunch, if ever there was one, the endearing Clampetts!</p> <p>Dominating TV ratings during the 1960s, The Beverly Hillbillies told the story of a simple Ozark-mountain family who struck gold, made millions and moved to an exclusive California address. Throughout its nine year run between 1962-1971, the Clampetts starred in 274 slap-your-knee Benny Hill style funny episodes.</p> <p>Hilarious scenarios arise as their untrustworthy banker does his damnedest to keep their oil earnings in the bank by lavishing them with an opulent lifestyle and appeasing unhappy neighbours who want them out of town. Overall, it’s a rollicking good time! </p> <p><strong>4. The Keatons (Family Ties)</strong></p> <p>During the height of President Reagan’s reign the world was introduced to a young Republican named Alex P. Keaton, played perfectly by Michael J. Fox in his breakout television role.</p> <p>Born to a couple of ex-hippies – architect Elyse and community radio employee Steven – the family also included less-than-intelligent, but flirty as hell, Mallory, middle-child syndrome prone Jennifer and, later, baby Andrew.</p> <p>The sometimes political but always funny storylines had that beautiful sitcom quality of wrapping up neatly after half an hour, and they never failed to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.</p> <p><strong>5. Dorothy And Sophia (The Golden Girls)</strong></p> <p>No list would be complete without the ragtag team of Dorothy Zbornak and her mother, Sophia Petrillo. These two women were so different it was hard to believe they were related, the side-splitting banter between the kooky mother and sensible daughter was so good it turned a show featuring a mature, all female cast into a smash hit. We love them for it!</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see our top 5 TV families of all time.</p> <p><em>Republished with permission of Wyza.com.au</em></p>

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