Beloved Eloffsdal resident celebrates 90th birthday

A resident of Sound Memory Cottages in Eloffsdal in Pretoria, Beryl Howie celebrated her 90th birthday last week.

She was born in the SA Army College Roberts Heights and grew up in Pretoria.

Howie received her school education from Iona Convent, an independent Catholic school in Capital Park.

After finishing her education she moved to Zambia in 1948.

In Zambia, she met her husband, Andrew Howie, and got married in June 1954. Together they had four children.

Sadly, her husband passed away.

However, she has the great privilege to enjoy time with her 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She has been a resident in the Sound Memory cottages for the past 12 years.

“In 1948, I worked in the mining office of then-Rhodesia where I was in the typing pool offices where I met my husband and got married in June 1954 and become a proud housewife.

“My favourite dish, was cottage pie and I loved my baking and spoiling my husband and children,” Howie said.

She added that she reached the age of 90 because of her “clean, healthy living” lifestyle.

“And I was always surrounded with love and care.

“Today I stay alone and when I look out my window I once again realise how blessed I am with great friends and beautiful children,” she said.

“My greatest memory and highlight of my life was my three-month honeymoon in Scotland, travelling on a luxury liner called Bloemfontein Castle.

“We made Zambia our home for 22 years. Then we moved to Harare in Zimbabwe and stayed there for 12 years.

“We then moved back to my hometown where I have been staying at the cottages,” she said.

According to a dear friend of Howie, Ina Erasmus, she is beloved by all of the residents, who arranged a surprise ladies tea party for her big birthday.

“It was such a special day to spoil Beryl.

“She is a very special lady. We are privileged to have known her for over 10 years and to celebrate her special day with her,” said Erasmus.