Local centenarian encourages others to never give up on life
“Never give up, even if you are 100 years old."
Former Edenvale resident Maria Gaiti celebrated her 100th birthday with a surprise cake, gifts and champagne.
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The celebrations were arranged for the Elphin Lodge resident on January 23 by committee member Jenny Sella.
Born in Brescia, Northern Italy, in 1923, Maria was the third of five children. She has three brothers and a sister.
Growing up, Maria had a happy childhood. Her father owned a general store where she would lend a hand.
She loved the three-month summer holidays in the nearby mountains.
Maria went to school at a local convent and after primary school, studied commerce, accounting and English.
While Maria was a teenager World War Two was declared.
At 19, she started working as a secretary at the Societá Elettrica Bresciana (Brescia Electricity Board) near the railway station.
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When bombardment fell near the station and it was declared unsafe, the board’s office was moved to a nearby hill.
A new chapter and love
After the war, Italy was very poor and Maria’s older brother emigrated to Kenya in search of a better life.
The family’s remaining two sons soon followed and Maria joined her brothers in Kenya in 1955 where she enjoyed a ‘good and adventurous life’.
While in Kenya, Maria met Ugo, her brothers’ friend, business associate and her future husband.
Maria and Ugo were married on December 20, 1959.
The couple planned a honeymoon trip to Cape Town, a journey which turned into an adventure.
The adventure starts
Maria said her youngest brother Paolo, who owned and flew a light aircraft, offered to fly them to Dar Es Salaam to board the MV Africa from Trieste, bound for Cape Town.
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Before reaching Dar Es Salaam, the aircraft developed engine trouble and had to land in a sisal field.
The farm owner offered to transport them to Dar Es Salaam where they boarded the ship the next day.
The couple reached Cape Town safely. They were captivated by the New Year carnival festivities, visits to wine farms and other attractions.
On their return trip to Kenya, the ship encountered rough seas at the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian oceans.
Their cabin, situated below sea level, was flooded when a bulkhead door blew open.
After reaching Mombasa the couple travelled to Nairobi by train, via Nanyuki.
Creating a family
Maria and Ugo have two children. Gabriella was born in February 1961, and Alberto in December 1963.
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They also have two grandchildren, Stefano and Sabrina and one great-grandchild, Michele.
After the birth of her children, Maria’s parents joined them in Kenya.
She was still working full-time at the family business while running a home and raising her children.
In 1966, the family received an offer to move to Somalia to manage one of her brother’s manufacturing companies.
They remained in Somalia until 1970 when they moved to Italy for some time.
Living in Edenvale
In 1974, Ugo applied for the family to emigrate to Australia, but the family opted for South Africa instead.
They first lived in a flat in Eastleigh and bought a house in Edenvale in 1976.
Maria worked for Pick n Pay’s head office in Bedfordview for nine years, until 1989.
She was in charge of the fruit and vegetable department and was responsible for making a weekly profit-and-loss account of all the stores in the Southern Transvaal area.
Ugo worked for Murray and Roberts for 17 years.
After waiting five years, Maria and Ugo moved into Elphin Lodge in 2008.
They have been happy ever since.
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Maria said their cottage is in a great location. It looks out over the dams, gardens, birds, ducks and geese.
“Help is always available when we need it,” said Maria.
Offering advice
Maria believes life is a great university.
“I learnt not to trust everyone and to avoid people who are insincere and manipulative,” said Maria.
She advised younger generations to do the same.
“Never give up, even if you are 100 years old,” advised Maria.
She still uses a computer for her correspondence and to manage her finances.
She has also kept up-to-date with technology and speaks to her daughter regularly via a WhatsApp video call.
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