Walking to her 100th birthday celebration on March 14, Jeanne Calitz of Pardes Retirement Village in Rynfield emphasised the importance of living a healthy lifestyle to enjoy a long and fruitful life.
Born in England as the daughter of a flour miller, Calitz enjoyed a life of globe-trotting and spending time in Peru as well as Wales.
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She later settled in Pietermaritzburg where she worked as a shorthand typist and legal secretary for various legal firms.
In 1997 she became the first resident of the retirement village where she still lives independently.
“Some of my fondest memories are from my school days. I spent my time taking part in sport and spending time with my friends,” she said.
“I have been blessed with a good life and believe that to stay healthy you do not only have to look after your body but also your mind.
“Young people worry so much that they forget to live and that makes the body frail. You have to live every day,” said Calitz.
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