Dora Seeff celebrates 101 years, alongside her 1-year-old great-grandson

In a world that often rushes by in the blink of an eye, the rarest and most precious moments are those that connect the past with the present. On August 8, just before Women’s Day, the Seeff family gathered in Sandown to celebrate an extraordinary milestone: the 101st birthday of Dora Seeff, a woman whose legacy is woven into the lives of her four children, 12 grandchildren, and 34 great-grandchildren.

But this year, the celebration was made even more special by the presence of a tiny, new addition to the family – Dora’s one-year-old great-grandson, Dezi, who travelled from Los Angeles with his parents to share in the joy. A full century lies between the two; a hundred years of history, wisdom, and love, all captured in the embrace of a grandmother and her great-grandchild.

For Dora, who still lives with her daughter in Sandown, the day was a reminder of the blessings she has accumulated over the years. Despite her advanced age, she remains remarkably active, enjoying shopping trips and beauty treatments with the assistance of her devoted carer, Martha. Her mind is as sharp as ever, allowing her to keep in touch with her large family, both near and far.

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Her son, Bernard, reflects on the woman who has been the cornerstone of the family for over a century. “Dora was always a loving and caring mother,” he says, recalling his childhood with fondness. “She was a home executive who was always around to look after us, and she extended that love to her nieces and nephews, acting as a surrogate mother to many.”

Dora’s influence has shaped the Seeff family across generations. Her humility, curiosity, and kindness have been passed down, instilling in her descendants a sense of responsibility to one another. “My mother has always stressed the importance of family,” Bernard adds. “Even after we had moved out, she insisted that we come over for at least one meal over the weekend. She has kept us together.”

Dora’s memories of her early years are like pages from a history book. She arrived in South Africa at the age of eight, learning English and helping her father in the shop, earning pocket money for her weekend efforts. Her love of cinema led her to a job at a local theatre at the age of eighteen, where she worked before marrying her beloved Morris.

As she looks back on her long life, Dora is most proud of the strong family she has built. “It’s overwhelming, like a tribe,” she says with a smile. “But it’s a wonderful tribe, and the response between my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren is wonderful. My family is very precious to me.”

Her legacy is not just one of numbers – four children, 12 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren – but one of deep, enduring connections. She has taught her family the value of sticking together, of kindness, and of maintaining the bonds of friendship even as life takes them in different directions.

The sight of Dezi, her great-grandson, sitting beside her with a single candle on his cake, while she blew out the candles on her own, brought tears to her eyes. “It’s unbelievable, something really special,” she says, her voice full of emotion. “To have a great-grandson at 100 – it’s a pleasure that brings tears to my eyes. God has given me the joy of living so long and to see my family grow in such a beautiful way.”

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As Dora looks to the future, her wishes are simple, yet profound: that her family always sticks together, that they continue to make time for one another, and that they carry forward the values she has instilled in them. At 101, she remains a beacon of love and resilience, a reminder of the power of family and the beauty of a life well-lived.

Her story is not just one of reaching a remarkable age, but of touching the lives of so many along the way. And as the Seeff family looks towards the future, they carry with them the lessons, the love, and the legacy of a remarkable woman who has lived – and continues to live – a truly extraordinary life.

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