Celebrating a Century.

CORNELIA Elizabeth Pietersen, or “Ouma Nellie”, as she is better known, celebrated one century of life on December 29, 2015, a truly special milestone. She was born in Wolmaransstad in 1915 and was a nurse and seamstress in her professional life. When things started going wrong for Ouma Nellie at the old age home at which she was living, because, according to her, she was excluded from the clique in the home for being too old, her granddaughter, Nadine Theron, convinced her husband, Pierre, to let her live with them, in Meyersdal, and she has been there ever since. Nadine says her grandmother is constantly making coffee and making food for the family. “When there are leftovers, she will often make another,different meal from them,” Nadine adds. She hates wasting food. I think it comes from her time when things were a lot tougher and nothing was wasted, you could afford to waste anything.” When asked for her secret to longevity, Ouma Nellie replies: “So 'n halwe wyntjie elke dag”. However, Nadine says, she and her family don't drink and, thus, poor gran has had to go without for years now. Ouma Nellie was married at the age of 19 and celebrated 62 wedding anniversaries with her husband before his passing. She has two two children (10 years age difference between them), eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren. Ouma Nellie, the matriarch of five generations, can no longer see or hear too well, but at her age that is not surprising. She does, however, have a young heart and a warm smile, and she is still active, an example to us all. Congratulations on your massive milestone Ouma Nellie, we wish you good health and prosperity for ages to come.