Happy 100th birthday Aunty Gladys
Gladys drove herself around, and played bowls and tennis until the age of 95.
ON Sunday, December 6, the congregation of the eMseni Methodist Church in Brentwood Park celebrated the 100th birthday of the oldest member of the congregation, Gladys East.
Her family and friends joined in a celebration at the Benoni Country Club on Saturday, December 5, to celebrate a century of life.
Her son Donald travelled from Lima in Peru, her son David and his partner Johanna from Sydney in Australia, and her granddaughter Lisa from Denver in Colarado USA, as well as other grandchildren and great grandchildren from various places of origin, to be with her on this special occasion.
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“It was a wonderful occasion to be together as a family again and have the privilege to say that we still have our mother on the ages of 71, 68 and 65. It is great knowing that our mother lived a full and happy life,” said Donald.
Gladys was born in Cape Town and now lives in Birchleigh with her daughter and son-in-law, Kobus and Rosemary Kriel.
“I loved it in Cape Town, going to the beach and hiking up Table Mountain. I had a very good life and I am happy to be with my daughter now,” said Gladys.
Up to about a year ago, Gladys would come early to the service on a Sunday so she could help to get the church spic and span before the rest of the congregation arrived.
Even now she knits dozens of small baby garments for the eMseni Little Angel project. These garments go to underprivileged mothers and newborn babies when they leave hospital.
Gladys drove herself around, and played bowls and tennis until the age of 95.
The children in the Sunday School at eMseni gave Aunty Gladys a gift and sang to her before she blew out her birthday candle on her cake. Their combined ages came to 102 years, which helped them to understand just how old Aunty Gladys is.
