ONE of the secrets of longevity for “Granny Alice, the Durban centenarian who celebrated another birthday this week, was reading a copies of the Daily News.
Alice Joan Fernandez who celebrated her 106th birthday on Tuesday marked the occasion at her Newlands East home with a thanksgiving communion service and rosary intercession.
Close family and friends were in attendance for the get-together, which was capped with the traditional cake-cutting and gift handover formalities.
On reaching a ripe old age, Fernandez’s advice was to live life being happy and do not be sorrowful.
“I like reading novels and the ‘Daily News’ newspaper. I am blessed with good eyesight. I do not need reading glasses. I love my family especially my little grandchild who I call lollipops. Be happy and live life full of laughter,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez admitted to her cravings for “a nice curry or a bunny chow”, and was an early riser who also enjoyed mielie meal and toast for breakfast.
Community activist Lawrence Palmer described Fernandez as a true inspiration to the community.
Palmer said she was still strong and pulling through despite being now confined to a wheelchair for the past several months.
“She loves it when people come around and visit. Unfortunately, she cannot dance anymore for visitors but she has not lost her voice and still sings vibrantly,” Palmer said of Fernandez, who was popularly known as Granny Alice in her community.
‘I’m Sitting on Top of the World’, an Aretha Franklin track, which was released in 1962, remains her favourite song.
Palmer said senior citizens need more recognition from government figureheads because they are a treasure trove of stories of the old days.
“They should do more for citizens over 100. Making them feel more treasured. I do not see this government presently adding value to senior citizens’ lives,” Palmer said.
Palmer said Fernandez received gifts and welcomed guests from the diverse community of Durban.
Fernandez has five daughters, two of whom have passed on, 19 grandchildren, and more than 30 great-grandchildren. Fernandez was born in Durban and grew up at St Philomena’s Children’s Home on the Berea.
She lived on Sydenham Road with her parents and then when she married she went to live in Booth Avenue in Sydenham, before moving to Newlands East in 1979.
In her youth, she worked in a clothing factory before joining her father, Nelson, in his tailor shop, A.S. Fernandez, on Pine Street – now renamed Monty Naicker Road.
eThekwini Ward 11 councillor Allan Peterson said Fernandez was the oldest resident in Newlands.
“I pay close attention to the elders in my ward. As a community we tried everything in our power to make her celebrations, especially when she turned 100, a fruitful and blessed one. We know that she loves singing and getting into a conversation. She has so much knowledge to impart.
“We have an opportunity to chat with her. The greatest of it all is to have someone at her age that can share history upon history of where she comes from and what happened back then. May God continue to bless her,” Peterson said.
Newlands East community activist Joanne Ryan said it is a blessing to have a Queen in her community.
“She looked after so many children with the little she had. She would ask any child if they were well and if they were hungry she would make them a sandwich. May she see many more years,” Ryan said.
DAILY NEWS