Ron Smith Care Centre’s centenarian celebrated
Born in 1922 in De Putten near Zeerust, Marie grew up with eight siblings, six sisters and two brothers.
It was celebration time at Ron Smith Care Centre when Marie Roberts celebrated her 100th birthday.
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On August 27 family and friends visited the Rand Aid run centre when they celebrated Marie’s birthday with her.
Born in 1922 in De Putten near Zeerust, Marie grew up with eight siblings, six sisters and two brothers.
She attended a farm school for the first 10 years of her life.
“We used to go to school on a donkey cart and it was there I learnt to speak Tswana,” said Marie.
During the depression in 1932, Marie’s family moved to Johannesburg where she attended Commercial High School.
“My first job was working for Roistone Motors,” she says.
Marie met her husband Lawrence at a roller rink in Malvern.
“When he came swooping up behind me and whisked me around the rink a few times, I was smitten,” explained Marie.
“We married shortly afterwards when I was 19, and we were married for almost 72 wonderful years.”
Marie and Lawrence had two sons, William and John, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She worked for an oil company for 25 years and then raised a second family – including her two young grandchildren who lived with her and Lawrence for 15 years.
Lawrence died in November 2013. Marie still misses him.Marie said she and Lawrence shared a love for music.
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“I used to play classical and jazz on our baby grand piano, and he used to play the drums in a band,” said Marie.
“I can sit and listen to music for hours,” says Marie.
She highlighted that her faith is very important to her.
“I have been very blessed to be part of a big, loving family and to have always had sisters to be my friends.”
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