REACHING the fine age of 100 was never on the cards for centenarian Marge ‘Raaitjie’ Stols who recently celebrated her milestone birthday with family and friends at the Graceland Nursing Home in Umbilo.

The still very much agile dancing queen said she had a very different idea of what being 100 years old would look like. She said, “I honestly never wanted to be 100. I always associated that age with being too old to do anything for yourself and not being able to move around freely. I thought it was silly to live that long, but seeing everyone here with me, I am grateful to be here.”

Stols’ birthday celebration was held on Friday, May 23. It was attended by a number of family members, including her son, 71-year-old Alex Collins, her sisters, 92-year-old Gina George and 87-year-old Linda Badenhorst, and granddaughter Nathalie, who flew in from Wales with her husband Neil McCormack, to be part of the surprise party.

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“I didn’t know that I was going to have such a big party, it was a surprise. Alex said he came to wish me happy birthday and reminded me that it was my 100^th birthday. I still can’t get my head around the fact that I am 100 years old, I thank God that I am healthy and happy at this age,” said Stols.

Stols has always led a healthy and sporty lifestyle, having played badminton, swimming and tennis well into old age. Her favourite sport and pastime, however, remains dancing. “Oh, I love my dancing. It was never anything too serious but I took part in competitions and played piano as well. I was always on the go, still love to dance and swim,” she said.

“She loves dancing and singing. My sister used to win dancing competitions and still moves around a lot at her age,” said Badenhorst.

Being the eldest child of six, Stols said she enjoyed spending time with her siblings when they were younger. Her favourite time in her youth was during high school when she experienced “falling in love for the first time, which was an amazing feeling”.

With the world changing before her eyes, from one era to another, Stols has led a colourful life, from acting, modelling, writing short stories, working in broadcasting and as a legal clerk. “I could have been an attorney,” muses Stols. “We just didn’t have the money for me to go to college. I was happy though, we didn’t have a lot but my parents always made it work.”

Stols had two children, a boy and girl. Nathalie’s mother died at a young age which strengthened her bond with her ‘ouma’.

“She used to teach me how to dance. She and I would square dance in the lounge. Those are some of my favourite memories with my ouma, when I stayed with her after school,” said Nathalie.

Stols extended her gratitude to staff of Graceland Nursing Home. The centre provides various levels of care, including frail, assisted living, palliative and step-down care as well as specialised Alzheimer’s and dementia care.