Grace and kindness key to long life

SUE FEA/Southland Times

MANY HAPPY RETURNS: Wakatipu Home resident Gladys Eyles (left) celebrates her 101st birthday at the home with daughter Lesley Jones.

Relevant offers

Wakatipu Home resident Gladys Eyles could be excused for failing a little in memory on her 101st birthday yesterday, but remarkably she could still recite a favourite childhood poem.

The poem was about how she "loved the sea", a place a child from Wedderburn in the heart of Central Otago would rarely get to visit without quite a journey in the early 1900s.

Gladys, who has fought off several chronic illnesses during her long life, including breast cancer and diphtheria many years ago, puts the secret to her longevity down to being grateful and being kind to everyone.

"It rebounds and comes back to you," she promised.

Her two greatest delights in life are her "babies", daughter Lesley Jones (71), of Queenstown, and son Robin Sellar (63), of Levin.

Her family are "all precious", all six grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 11 great great grandchildren.

Gladys has lived through some amazing historical events, including the advent of the motor car. One of her fondest memories is the arrival of the first car in the Wedderburn area and being taken for rides as a child.

Mrs Jones said her mother still loved to be driven around and staff at the home said she was always first in line for the home's van outings once a week, and Housie night.

She was even famous for her early morning "Highland fling" down the home's corridor.

"She's a very grateful person and very Christian person. Her faith is very important to her and is what's kept her going," Mrs Jones said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First