Three pandemics, the fall of a nation, a world war and still going strong
The delightful old woman recalls that some of her happiest memories were made on the quiet farm her family owned in White River, but every moment she spends with her family becomes a new happy memory.
For many of us, 2020 has been one of the most difficult years we have ever experienced, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and a means for inspiration.
The oldest resident at Kruinpark Retirement Village can only be described as one of these inspirations. On 4 September, Elisabeth Maria Johanna du Plessis (affectionately known as Marie) celebrated her 100th birthday and she has lived a life with a story worthy of being told.
Born in 1920, Marie has gone through three pandemics, the fall of a nation, and a world war. Only missing World War 1 by two years, she suffered through World War 2, the polio pandemic, the Spanish flu, the coronavirus pandemic, and the fall of Rhodesia, yet she radiates positivity as if she had never shed a tear.
In her 100 years, Marie had moved around a lot and even spent 17 years in Rhodesia before coming to Johannesburg after the Rhodesian Bush War and the renaming of the unrecognised country to Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.
Marie said she has kept her positive attitude by living day to day and showing compassion as often as she can; a lesson she has spent her life passing on to her enormous family. She was married to the same man for 63 years before he sadly passed away, but together they had eight beautiful children. The family only grew and now also comprises 23 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren.
Two of her children have sadly passed away, but she is still in regular contact with the rest of her family and is surprisingly proficient with her cellphone. The delightful old woman recalls that some of her happiest memories were made on the quiet farm her family owned in White River, but every moment she spends with her family becomes a new happy memory.
Despite being 100 years old, Marie still walks around with little trouble, cleans her small home, and looks after herself for the most part, even though she shares her Kruinpark home with her daughter.
Her energetic and kind nature, brisk-paced walks and bright smile have made her very well known among her neighbours. The board of trustees at Kruinpark even threw her a small party the day before her birthday because she was to spend 4 September with her family at her son’s home in Little Falls.
