Tannie Fransie turns 99 and feels younger than ever

“The secret to a long, healthy, and happy life is to never tell yourself that you are old. You need to just live and love life to the fullest.”

These are the wise words that local stalwart Tannie Fransie swears by and which she believes are the reason that she lived to see her 99th birthday this past Wednesday, September 27.

The residents of Glabia Flats held a special surprise birthday party, honouring the beautiful life Tannie Fransie has lived so far, despite overcoming many challenges and heartache.

See photos here:

Fransie Mulder was born in Craddock, in the Eastern Cape Province, in 1924. She grew up on a farm near the Visrivier along with her mother, father, sister, and two brothers.

“I was a real ‘plaaskind’ and just loved life on the farm,” she said.

In 1948, Fransie married the love of her life, Michael Bosch. The couple decided to relocate to Zambia in 1949, where they lived for 12 years.

Her husband took up a job at the local mine, while Fransie took up a position at Zambia’s First National Bank. According to her, those 12 years were some of the best years of their lives.

The couple battled with infertility issues for many years, but eventually, with the help of a London (UK)-based doctor, Doctor Hunter, they finally welcomed the birth of their son, Michael Jr.

After 12 years, the Bosch family relocated back to South Africa, where Fransie made the decision to be a stay-at-home mother until her son started ‘big school’.

Thereafter, she decided to go back to work, this time at FNB in Pretoria, while her husband worked at Iscor.

Her son tragically passed away at the age of 18 in 1977. This was followed by the death of her husband 10 years later, in 1987.

She made the deliberate decision to not marry again, stating: “I never had time for that.”

“I was left on my own, but I knew I had to carry on with life, and I had to carry on doing what we always loved,” she explained.

According to Fransie, she has always been a child of God and has always carried her faith and religion close to her heart.

“I have never considered myself ‘old’ and what I did at 20 I still do today at 99. It’s a state of mind, and I believe that once you start saying, ‘I can’t do that anymore; I am too old’,” that is when your body and mind become old and ill.”

Proving she is ‘not old’ at a sprightly 99, Fransie still does her own cooking, baking, cleaning, and gardening, and up until last year, she was still driving herself around.

She made the decision to give up her home last year and move into an old-age home.

However, after five months, she moved back into a place of her own, saying that being in an old-age facility and being made to feel old almost drove her ‘insane’.

She follows a strict skin routine daily, which has helped make her look as young as she feels and she takes afternoon walks regularly, ensuring that she gets her exercise in to keep her fit and healthy.

Furthermore, she believes that, despite the difficulties she has faced throughout her life, she has led a full and non-boring life.

“I’ve always loved cooking and spend a lot of time in the kitchen.”

Her advice to others? “Walk a path with God and to trust in him.Turn to God and carry him with all you do, and just live your life the best you can,” she concluded.

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