Glen Marais great-gran turns 93
“I appreciate her love so much,” her husband said, unable to hide his tears.
In a lovely home in Glen Marais, where a variety of roses grow in the garden and a bright pink bougainvillea creeps up the wall, lives Marge Taynton. The silver-haired mother of three, grandmother of six and great-grandmother of two, celebrated her 93rd birthday on October 1.
“When we moved here, Kempton Park was just a little dorpie,” she laughed. She and Ken (83), her husband of 55 years, have lived in the city for 43 years.
“We were the third house on the street,” she explained. “This was all veld and we could take our dogs out to walk all over.”
In those years, at one point, Marge worked in a solicitor’s office and for a building society.
After that, she took care of her and Ken’s three sons. A photo of them in the living room, as well as many others of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, testify to a loving family.
“I appreciate her love so much,” Ken said, unable to hide his tears. “She is always so caring.”
“If more husbands were like Ken the world would be a happier place,” Marge admitted with a smile.
When not tending to her family, Marge enjoyed knitting and sewing. “I really made lovely clothes, there’s no doubt about that.”
Marge fell in February, which left her with a broken hip.
“I have so many screws in my leg. I can’t move around too much or I’m screwed,” she said jokingly.
Despite now having to use a wheelchair, Marge remains positive.
“I have so much to be thankful for. I can’t walk or hear too well but I can see, I can smell, I can taste and I can feel. All those things the Lord just gives me and I appreciate what I’ve got.”
Her advice to young people is to appreciate life.
“Take care of yourselves, you never know what might happen.”
