Maria’s recipe for reaching 102
Maria Josephus, who celebrated her birthday 102nd birthday, attributes her long and prosperous life to family.
|||Cape Town - She’s never smoked, only rarely has a drink but still enjoys a plate of bacon and eggs at the grand old age of 102. Maria Josephus, who celebrated her birthday on Wednesday, attributes her long and prosperous life to family.
She spent the day surrounded by her loved ones. The family welcomed the community into their home to eat cake, escape the heat and rejoice in their beloved matriarch.
Josephus sat in the middle of her family room dressed in her Sunday best, complete with a luxurious, detailed pink hat.
Hats are a favourite of Josephus, who says it is still very important to her that she be well-dressed at all times.
“I don’t understand children these days. When I was young you had to be well-presented always.”
Traditional values are of huge importance to Josephus, who says her close relationship with her family has been vital in her long life.
Josephus’s daughter, Fredericka Fortune, 62, lives with her mother in Factreton and says she is just as sharp as she has always been.
“She will still tell me to change my clothes if she doesn’t approve.
“She is a very strong woman.”
Josephus was born in Mowbray and grew up on a farm in Caledon.
She left the farm at 18, despite the fact that she was supposed to have stayed for another three years until she turned 21.
“She always told us that she was cheeky when she was young.
“She left the farm because she was bored, and moved to Cape Town to be with the rest of her family,” said Fortune.
She spent the rest of her working days as a domestic worker, caring for her eight children and hosting her friends and family for dinner.
“My mother was always a great host. Nobody ever walked into our house without getting tea and food and a good place to sit,” says Fortune.
When she was 55, Josephus was involved in a car accident where she was critically injured.
She spent close to six months in hospital learning to walk again.
When she was admitted, doctors told her children that she wouldn’t make it. But nearly 50 years later Josephus is still going strong.
“But when she kept recovering, they were amazed. They said she had a very strong heart.”
Josephus spends most of her days sitting at her living room window and watching her street, often sharing gossip with her daughter.
“She is very observant. She will watch who walks past and remember them.
“She sometimes tells me things, like who is getting fat or who has a new dress,” said Fortune.
As for diet, Josephus is a believer in only eating quality, home-made food.
“We always know our cooking was good when she eats everything on her plate.” Nowadays, her favourite meal is bacon and eggs.
When asked what her secret was, Josephus pauses to think: “It’s about family. You must respect your mother and spend time with your family.”
Josephus also credits her strong faith with getting her through life’s difficult times: “I am here by the grace of God.”
iman.latief@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
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