102 years of health and happiness for Lily

LILY Hart celebrated her 102 birthday on July 11 at the Lala Panzi tea room in Queenshaven with her close family.

The newspaper did an article two years ago about her turning 100 years old and also having a big celebration. Her family said they didn’t think they will have the privilege to celebrate her birthday two years later.

Her four daughters Norma Gove, Marlene Lewis, Joy Kirsten and Ailene Basel were also there to celebrate the big day with her. Lily’s granddaughter, Michelle Hatting, said her grandmother has no health issues and is taking no tablets.

“Her oldest daughter is 81 years old and what an honour it must be to say that your mother is still alive at that age. God is so good,” said Michelle.

Birthday celebrations for the day took place in the tea room which was decorated for this joyous celebration. The family enjoyed some cake and other sweet and savoury treats with coffee and tea. Lily was all smiles while she opened her presents.

“I am so lucky to have family members like mine,” said Lily.

According to Michelle, it was quite a struggle to buy a birthday card with the number 102 on it.

“I bought one that said 100 and I was creative enough to make the 100 a 102,” Michelle said.

Born in 1916, while the First World War was being fought, Elizabeth Ida Lousie Rohrs was born to German parents. Lily moved to Queenshaven 12 years ago and she grew up in Natal.

“I grew up with other children who taught me Zulu. I was one of the lucky ones who got to ride a horse to school,” Lily said.

Lily later married Norman Harry Hart and they had one son, who sadly died, and four daughters. Harry died in 1981 and Lily moved to Gauteng to be closer to her daughters.

She also has 14 loving grandchildren, 17 beautiful great-grandchildren and one precious great-great-grandchild.

Lily loves to make paper butterflies in her spare time.

“I also read a lot and I love to knit,” she said.

Lily thanked her lovely family for making her birthday so special.

“Even though my body is telling me I am 102 years old, my soul is still very young.”

Did you know:

In 1916, General Louis Botha was prime minister of the Union of South Africa and George V was monarch of the British Commonwealth. If you were privileged enough you would have enjoyed listening to the wireless, when popular music was done by Duke Ellington, Al Johnson and George Gershwin. Children would have played with tinker toys, teddy bears and pedal cars (model T Ford) and an average family annual income was 240 to 360 pounds. Petrol would have set you back five cents a gallon, a loaf of bread cost seven cents, a dozen eggs 34 cents and a quart of milk nine cents.

Read more:

https://www.citizen.co.za/alberton-record/114221/happy-100th-birthday/

For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.

Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za

Add us on WhatsApp today! Alberton Record: 060 644 5264 Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.