A Renishaw Hills resident, Fern Steivenart recently celebrated her 100th birthday with friends and family where they took a trip down memory lane and reminisced about her interesting past.
She was born in Belgium on August 20, 1922 shortly after the end of the first World War, and has lived through several historic moments in human history such as the crumbling of ancient empires, the fight for women’s rights, the creation of the atom bomb, the world’s most expensive wars, the first moon landing, the discovery of DNA and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
When Fern was 17, World War 2 began, but this did not stop her from qualifying as a dressmaker, a skill she has used throughout her life.
She also spoke about how she met her husband Gilbert while at a Mardi Gras Carnival when she was still a student. The couple waited until the war was over before they tied the knot.
With jobs scarce, she and her husband moved to Bukavu in the Belgian Congo.
“We ran a material and haberdashery business, importing fabrics from Belgium and France,” she explained.
“After independence in 1960, we literally packed all our belongings in a friend’s truck and drove to Natal (KZN), a trip that took three weeks.
“My husband loved fishing and we both loved the warm climate, so Natal became home.”
Fern came from the French-speaking Belgian Congo, and at the age of 38 she suddenly had to learn to speak English when she arrived in Durban.
She considers learning English one of her greatest achievements.
Fern is a mother of six and grandmother of 10 and has been living at Renishaw Hills since 2019.
When asked about the secret to a long and healthy life, Fern said: “No smoking! I’m not a big drinker and only enjoyed the occasional sherry or wine. I took no medication until the age of 95 and this was for blood pressure. Although I wasn’t into sports, I did a lot of walking, and this kept me healthy.”
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