Golden girl Muriel Lack turned 109 on Saturday and was surrounded by family and friends to celebrate this impressive milestone.
The Kennersley Park Old Age Home resident in Beacon Bay was welcomed into the home’s dining room by a huge pink cake and showered with love, hugs and kisses for this very big birthday.
“It’s so wonderful. I can’t believe that I am this age, I feel very blessed,” said Lack with a smile.
Born in the Northern Cape on May 4 1910, Lack spent her childhood in Kimberley where she was a “roller skating model” in her teens, according to her son Brian Lack, 74.
“My mom has always been very active. She was an avid golfer and played well into her sixties.
“She was still playing bridge at the age of 102 and she’s always loved gardening. She even won quite a few competitions,” said Brian.
He said that over the years, spinach has become known as the secret to his mom’s longevity. “A few years ago a reporter quoted that my mom loved spinach, which she does. My wife would make her spinach tarts all the time.
“Now whenever I come to visit her at the home at meal times, she always has spinach in her meals,” Brian chuckled.
Lack married the late Cecil Lack in January 1935 and together they had two children, Brian (Lack) and Jennifer Whittaker. Lack is a grandmother to four grandchildren and was lucky enough to have her granddaughter, Barbara Lack, join her for her birthday this year.
“I remember my gran always being a part of our lives while growing up and it’s been a privilege to have her with us for so long.
“Each year is another incredible milestone,” said Barbara who was born in East London, but now lives in Durban.
Lack and her husband moved to East London in 1975, where they retired happily. Unfortunately, Cecil died in 2009, at the age of 99. “My parents retired to Gonubie and my dad just missed his 100th birthday and their 75th wedding anniversary by a few months,” said Brian.
Ever so active, Lack walked unaided, did her own housework and continued to garden until the ripe age of 104.
“She lived in her own granny flat at our home in Bonza Bay until a few weeks before her 105th birthday and she was doing everything herself. She was still bossing me around to make sure our garden was up to her standards,” Brian laughed.
A fall left Lack wheelchair bound in 2015, but she is still as lively as ever.
Kennersley Park nursing sister, Margaret Ntlokwana, said that Lack was very graceful and that she still attended chapel every Thursday. “She is an amazing woman and its so inspiring to see her so lively and happy at her age.”
When asked if she would be voting in the upcoming elections, Lack said proudly: “Yes, I will most definitely be voting. I’ve voted every time we’ve had elections.”..