East woman (102) lives through the world’s worst pandemics
102-year-old Ouma Essie shares her experience with living through the Spanish Flu and now Covid-19
A Sunnyside centurion has shared her experience of living through some of the world’s worst pandemics and making it out without any hiccups.
Ouma Essie, as she is affectionately known, celebrated her 102nd birthday on 7 April, and was looking forward to having many more.
Sarah Elizabeth Grobler, who lives at Harmoniehof private home in Sunnyside, was born in the Western Cape, during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1919.
The flu, which lasted two years, affected millions of people globally, killing about 500 000 in South Africa.
“My mother was three months pregnant with me during the Spanish flu of 1918, and thankfully did not get sick,” Ouma Essie said.
Having already celebrated her centenary birthday, she has lived through the greatest and worst moments of the 20th century.
In an open letter about Covid-19 and its effects she wrote last year, Grobler stated how difficult it has been to spend time with her loved ones when there were so many restrictions.
“Hugs and kisses can land you in jail because of corona,” the letter reads.
“I could write more about Covid-19 but I have 101-year-old pair of eyes and slanted writing. I cannot even get a new pair of glasses.”
She recalled how difficult life was in 1939, when World War II began.
“Shopping was very difficult. You couldn’t buy baby wool without a doctor’s medical certificate,” she said.
“Lots of things were difficult to obtain. There was a hail storm once and people had to obtain a permit to replace windows. I have lived through so many things and saw a lot so it is difficult to mention them all.”
One of her fondest memories was witnessing the historical Groot Trek centenary celebration in 1938. She also remembered how she travelled to various places all over the world with her friends and family, including a tour through Western Europe, Spain and Portugal.
“One of my favourite experiences was riding a gondola in Venice, Italy,” she said.
She also remembered receiving pebbles from a Roman Catholic priest in the Garden of Gethsemane when she travelled to Israel.
As the saying goes, with age comes wisdom. She passed on a few lessons to her family and young people, that they should not make hasty decisions.
Grobler said people should not focus on technology as much as they did and should rather spend more time with their loved ones. “Happiness comes from always being helpful and friendly and giving to those in need.”
Ouma Essie’s secret to a long and full life was to simply eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep and take as many walks as possible.
She said she would one day like her friends and family to remember her as a kind and friendly person.
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