A birthday deserving of roses
Sitting on a chair by the window where the sun shines into her cosy, vintage-style room at the Rynpark Six frail care, where she has resided for nearly 13 years, Jacobje Gezina Sparrius looks graceful on her special day.
Feelings of thrill and honour were evident in the room as family, friends and caretakers of “Jaco” as she is more affectionately known, walked in to wish her well on her 100th birthday.
“It is amazing – she is the only one of her friends that are still here,” said Jaco’s daughter Lottie Bakker, with an excited smile on her face.
February 16 was made special by the staff at the frail-care unit as well as some friends and family who came to visit.
Her cake was made by the catering service of the unit.
Born on February 16, 1916 in Leiderdorp, a town in the Netherlands, Holland, Sparrius was the youngest of eight children.
She was married to her husband Eduard Jan Sparrius for 40 years before he died 30 years ago.
They were blessed with three children; Lottie Bakker, Dr Hans Sparrius and Prof Ad Sparrius.
Eduard was an attorney by profession while Jacobje spent her days as a devoted housewife.
Subsequent to World War Two, Eduard lived and worked in Indonesia for three years before returning to Holland but discovered that he felt uncomfortable living there.
The family then moved to South Africa in 1955, where they felt more at home.
Eduard then joined the Johannesburg Building Society, now known as Absa, working as a lawyer.
Jaco couldn’t hide her admiration for her children, explaining that they are a close-knit family.
“They are such hard workers and I am very proud of them,” she said.
Jaco and her daughter shared that they were going to have a big celebration with the family of almost 50 in total on Saturday, February 20, at a function venue called Heaven’s Gate in Boksburg, and that she was very excited.
Jaco has 16 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Walking in the room, it would have been difficult to ignore her timeless radiance, wearing blue slacks, a matching blue top and a green and blue floral blouse which were all specially chosen for the day she would be celebrating such a milestone.
“You look so beautiful Jaco,” was the compliment of the day as people came in to wish her well.
The centenarian is a part of the Reformed Church in Rynfield and has lived all her years grateful to God for everything she has in her life.
When asked by friend Anna Smit how she had made it to this age, she pointed and looked upwards and, in Afrikaans, said, “Everything comes from Him.”
While everyone sat in Jaco’s room, chatting and laughing in jubilation, Jethro Ndlala from Absa, walked in holding a bouquet of 100 red roses and a card from Absa CEO Maria Ramos as a token of respect in recognition and remembrance of her late husband’s many years working for the company.
Sparrius’s face lit up with delight as she was elated to receive the gift, asking who she needed to thank.
