Viking genes help Birgitte to 100
She celebrated with family, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A RESIDENT of Mooi Hawens Home for the Aged in Winklespruit, Birgitte Ljungdalh celebrated her 100th birthday last week.
The home put on a celebration in her honour on Friday, 28 November and her family celebrated the milestone with her on her birthday, Saturday, 29 November.
Birgitte was born in Denmark and was the sixth out of 10 children. She grew up on a dairy farm in Jutland. Unfortunately, her parents died when she was a young woman and the farm was sold after being managed for sometime by her older brothers and sister.
As young adults, the siblings moved on, Birgitte to Copenhagen where she met her future husband, Werner. They were married in 1936 and had four children.
Werner liked adventure and new challenges, as through his work he had visited many countries. Birgitte joined him the next time he went abroad and in August, 1957 the couple and their four children settled in South Africa. Their best years were at a then mission hospital in Hlabisa, Zululand, where they lived and worked for 14 years until retirement. They later moved to Durban, where they lived near their children for 10 years.
After Werner died, Birgitte moved to Poinsettia Park Retirement Village, where she lived for 10 years. Later on she lived with her daughter, Judy Plantec in Winklespruit for nine years, before moving to Mooi Hawens where she is currrently a content resident.
“My mother thinks it’s unbelievable that she has turned 100. She owes her longevity to her Viking genes. On her birthday, her whole family celebrated with her including six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and her niece who travelled from Denmark to be with her and the family for the occasion,” said Judy.
Unfortunately two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren who live overseas could not attend. She received many cards and flowers from her family in Denmark.
“She is living an amazing life, having lived through a double heart bypass at 80-years-old with no side effects and two world wars. How privileged and what a legacy for her family, whom she loves dearly and is loved dearly in return.”
