KEEPING fit and and living a full active life is what Monica Balcon believes is her secret to longevity.
Monica was born in Sintra, Portugal on Thursday, 20 April 1911. The family moved to England shortly after she was born because of the Republican Revolution that had started at the end of 1910 in Portugal. She went to a convent school in England and then attended a finishing school in Switzerland. The family moved to British Guiana that was then a British Colony on the northern coast of South America.
Monica said she was an outstanding tennis player back in the day. She won the mixed doubles, women’s doubles and women’s singles in one year in Guiana. She was also named sportswoman of the year when she was only 19 years old. Monica also had a passion for horse riding.
She moved to South Africa, after she married her third husband, the late Major Freddy Balcon, more than 40 years ago. They settled in Kloof. The major was involved in the army’s medical corp and he was an administrator at St Augustine’s Hospital in Durban.
Monica qualified as a dance teacher in South Africa and her favourite dance was the tango. She loves Luciano Pavarotti’s music and watching Dancing with the Stars and Who Wants to be a Millionaire on television. Her latest favourite TV shows is the late night crime stories and the Oscar trial.
She has one son, Peter Daniel from her second husband, who turned 63 this year. Most of her family lives in England.
At the age of 103, Monica is still very healthy. She is an avid reader and enjoys the UK’s Hello magazine her nephew sends her every month. Although she wears glasses at times, her eyesight is still good. She also has her full set of teeth and only recently began to eat less. Her favorite food is a spicy curry and meat.
Monica recently became bedridden, but drove her car until she was 95, and even swam until her early 80s.
She is well looked after by five caregivers who work shifts. Shaanti Maharaj (74), who has been with Monica for 27 years, said Monica is a kind person.
“She has never raised her voice to any of us, she is kind and gentle, very lady-like,” said Shaanti.
Monica celebrated her 103rd birthday with close friends at her home on Sunday. She said she planned to outlive her late cousin, Philamina from England, who lived to 106 years.
She describes herself as a placid person who lives by the motto, “live and let live.”
