Hillcrest centenarian reminisces on memorable life journey
With 100 years worth of memories, Hillcrest's Deirdre was only too excited to share them with our readers.
HILLCREST’S Deirdre Rosemary Bohmer (nee Little) celebrated her 100th birthday recently and was eager to share her tale with the Highway community.
She was born at the Yorkshire Nursing Home in Durban on 7 June in 1921, just after midnight. Her twin sister, Desiree, was born just before midnight.
“She celebrated her birthday the day before me,” she chuckled.
Desiree lived in Zimbabwe and passed away 30 years ago. Her younger sister by three years, Jocelyn Treloer, died five years ago while her brother, Richard Little, lived on the KZN south coast and passed away not too long ago.
She worked as secretary for Baylis and Forth, and then BOAC where she met Jimmy Bohmer, her life partner. The couple tied the knot in September in 1946.
Their only child, James, was born two years later.
“We lived in the same house in Pinetown from 1950 to 1968. Jimmy went into partnership with Victor Fregona and Sam Law and established the first hardware store in Pinetown – Pinetown Hardware and Timber. He then went into partnership with his nephew, Leo Freese, and Stan Raaff. They then started Bohmer, Freese and Company in 1961,” she said.
Deirdre helped in the office at both businesses – always the gentle, quiet lady. Her son, James, married Zillah and they moved to Australia with their two daughters, Candice and Susan. They currently live in Bundaberg in Queensland, where they run a successful business.
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“I travelled to visit them on one occasion and thoroughly enjoyed my time with them,” she smiled.
When Jimmy retired in 1968, they moved to Monzi in Zululand where they lived for 10 years. They then moved to Everton Road in Kloof in 1978. It was when Jimmy died in 1988 that Deirdre chose to move to Willingdon Mews, where she lived until 2015. At age 94, she moved into a care home and still lives happily at Quill Hall Haven just off Abrey Road in Kloof. It was here that she celebrated her 100th birthday.
“I attribute my long life to daily walks, gardening and reading the Bible – not forgetting the wonderful meals provided by chef Daisy at Quill Hall Haven, and the amazing, caring sisters and nurses at the home,” she smiled.
Her birthday was filled with great fanfare as she chatted to her family in Australia and received numerous phonecalls from friends, flowers from Australia, England and locally. There was even an in-house party with the residents and staff at the care home.
“Living a good, honest life and keeping my focus on the Lord is my perfect recipe for a long, happy life,” said Bohmer.
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