Local elderly celebrates 100th birthday
“She was an accomplished gardener who won prizes and loved embroidery and knitting.”
A life lived for a century was celebrated when Ellen Quinn recently had her 100th birthday.
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The Ron Smith Care Centre (RSCC) resident celebrated her birthday with family and friends on April 17.
Her milestone party was held at RSCC’s Woodlands lapa two days earlier with her son, Richard, from East London, and her grandson, Simon, from Cape Town.
Her daughter-in-law, other family members and friends joined the party.
Richard said his mom was born in Rhodesia and moved to Johannesburg as a child.
She had one sister.
During World War II, Ellen married Edmund, who was in the air force and served in North Africa and Europe.
During this time, Ellen worked in Joburg as a hairdresser.
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When the war ended, the couple started their family. They first lived in Edenvale, then Bedfordview, before moving to Potchefstroom.
The couple had three sons and were happily married until Edmund’s death over 30 years ago.
After her husband’s death, Ellen moved to Rand Aid’s Elphin Lodge retirement village.
She lived there for 28 years before moving to the Ron Smith Care Centre in 2020.
“My brothers and I were educated in Potchefstroom, where my mother was the chairperson of the PTA of Potch Boys High and famous for attending and catering for sporting events,” said Richard.
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“She was an accomplished gardener who won prizes and loved embroidery and knitting,” he said.
Ellen has two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
