At 98 Kay remains modestly youthful
Kay van Druten, a modest gran celebrated her 98th birthday this week.
LIVING to see your 98th birthday is no easy feat, yet Kay van Druten, a resident at Essenwood Residential Home takes it in her stride.
The modest granny said during her birthday celebration on Monday morning that she didn’t know how she reached the milestone birthday. “I just know I’m really lucky,” she said. One of her mantras she often shares with friends at the Home, ” I wasn’t very good in life, but I had a good life!”
The petite nonagenarian grew up and was schooled in East London but had to leave school after her father died because her mother could not afford the school fees. While she modestly says she was never too good at sport, Kay excelled in rowing when it was not common for woman to be involved in water sport. “I remember they made us take out own boats out ourselves, but I had to give it up because I lost too much weight, training,” she joked.
Kay work in a small company doing secretarial work after leaving school, despite hating typing and shorthand, but then transferred to Johannesburg. “Johannesburg was quite a pulsating city and I went from working with eight people to an office of 50. After work I would go to St John’s and help with nursing before I caught a bus home at 9pm. My life was eventful in some ways.”
Kay met and married her husband Bill while working in Joannesburg. “It was during the war. He was stationed in Kimberly and did not have permission to travel out of the area so had to do the planning. He also went to war for four years!”
Kay says the highlight in her life was giving birth to her son Robert, who now lives in Australia. “We keep in regular touch and he called me early this morning to wish me happy birthday. Robert had twin girls and a son and I now have six great grandchildren,” Kay said proudly, although she said it was hard to see them as they are all living out of South Africa.
After the birth of her son Robert, Kay moved to Durban when her husband got a post but she soon divorced. “I lived at the Athlone Hotel for some time before I moved to Kengsington Flats in Morningside and moved to Essenwood Residential Home 24 years ago,” she said.
Her friends at the home made an extra special effort in getting Kay ready to celebrate her milestone birthday with a facial, then hair and makeup.She was happy to share her special day with her friends from the Home.
“Kay is very easy going and friendly. She’s so stylish and always wears matching earrings and neclaces depending on her outfits,” Helen Watson, general manager of the Home said.
