IRENE Isabel Aitkenhead, a Gillitts resident, will be celebrating her 100th birthday on 29 March.
The poised resident was born in 1914 in Benoni, Johannesburg, at the beginning of the First World War. She and her family moved to Durban when she was only seven years old.
She recalled fondly how she grew up with her two brothers, Alan and Stanley Patterson. She also solemnly reported that before she was born three of her sisters had died. Her oldest sister died as a baby of unknown causes, while her twin sisters died of scarlet fever when they were four months old.
In 1931 when Irene was 17 years old she met George Aitkinhead at a formal dance. “He asked me to dance and he was very talented on his feet. After that night we began courting, and he visited me regularly,” said Irene.
Irene and George exchanged their vows on 10 June 1933, at the Windermere Presbyterian Church, when Irene was 19 years old. According to Irene, her marriage is her most fondest memory. “It was a traditional wedding. My brother, Alan, came home from the war to give me away on my wedding day, as my father had passed away when I was 14 years old,” said Irene.
George tragically died in 1994 at the age of 84. “My father died in August, months after my parents celebrated their 60th anniversary in June,” said Beryl Arendse, Irene’s oldest daughter.
Beryl recalls how much her mother and father loved each other. “They were soul mates, and they loved each other from the moment they met. My father would never allow us, or anyone, to disrespect my mother. He truly treasured her,” said Beryl.
Irene and George were blessed with four children, Beryl, Merle Bounds, Victor Aitkinhead and Colin Aitkinhead, as well as nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Irene has survived most of her family, but is still loved and supported by her children and grandchildren.
“She has been a wonderful mother and grandmother. We are all very proud of her and we love her to bits. We have been very blessed to have had her with us for this long. I can’t imagine life without her,” said Beryl.
Irene attributes her longevity to her healthy lifestyle, and insisted that she never drank or smoked, and ate plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Her love of life has not been dampened by the fact that she has lost 90 per cent of her vision.
Despite not being able to do the things she has always loved, such as reading, crocheting or knitting, Irene plans to celebrate her birthday with her family and friends at the Fairydene Retirement Village in Pinetown.
