Alice Joan Fernandez at 106: a legacy of love in Newlands East
Live life being happy and do not be sorrowful were the wise words of Alice Joan Fernandez who celebrated her 106th birthday, on Tuesday.
Friends, family and children converged on Fernandez’s Newlands East home for a thanksgiving communion service and rosary intercession which was held alongside the traditional cake cutting and gift handover.
Fernandez is an early riser who enjoys mielie meal and toast for breakfast.
“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. I was feeling for a nice curry or a bunny chow. Be happy and live life full of laughter,” Fernandez said.
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.
Fernandez’s favourite song is ‘I’m Sitting on Top of the World’, which was sung by Aretha Franklin in 1962.
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 adding value to senior citizens’ lives,” Palmer said.
Fernandez is also popularly known in the community as Granny Alice.
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.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za