Tarentaal Retirement Village resident Silvia Rijavec recently celebrated her 90th birthday and enjoyed the day drinking tea with friends.
Born on September 22, 1930, in a small village in Northern Italy to a family of five children Silvia said she is blessed that two of her brothers are still alive.
In 1951, Silvia married Antonio Rijavec. The couple soon boarded a ship for a 21-day journey to South Africa, where they started a new life with their seven-month-old son, Andy.
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“The beginning was tough, we had nothing and I did not speak English. Today I am fluent in the language,” said Silvia.
The Rijavecs had another son and a daughter, who died of bone cancer at the age of 38 in Canada.
“My awesome grandson Herbi loves me dearly. He looks after me well and we are extremely close,” said the nonagenarian, who has lived at Tarentaal for over five years.
“I love my new life and friends at Tarentaal. I am happy and at peace here.”
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