Mauritius: Mrs Marie Antoinette Joseph of Quatre Bornes reached a milestone birthday on Wednesday, 25 October 2023, by turning 100 years old.
In this context, an official ceremony was organised by the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity to honour the new centenarian on Saturday, 28 October 2023, at the Belle Rose Reception Hall.
The Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Mr Alan Ganoo, other personalities and her relatives were present on the occasion. Mrs Joseph received, from the authorities, a cheque amounting to Rs 26,203; a bouquet; a centenarian medal; a certificate; a gas burner; a gift from the Senior Citizens Council; and a cheque to the tune of Rs 10,000 from the National Solidarity Fund.
The centenarian went to school at Palma up to Standard II. Her father was a watchman on the Medine Sugar Estate, while her mother was a housewife who later worked as a maid. Mrs Joseph hails from a family where she had two brothers and four sisters. Five of her siblings have passed away, except for one sister, who is 86 years old.
Mrs Joseph, a single mother, had one son, Mr Maurice Joseph, whom she raised by herself by fabricating bags from aloes, to afterwards work on the Medine Sugar Estate as a labourer.
She lived at her parents’ place and benefitted, in addition to her work, from their assistance in looking after her son, who passed away in 2004. The centenarian has three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
During those 100 years, the centenarian spent her life dedicated to the church, attended masses, in particular, “La religion de Marie”, and helped gather the children of the locality for catechesis.
Mrs Joseph is a flexitarian, and her favourite food is chicken curry with green peas. She attributes her long life to her healthy lifestyle, hard work and unconditional faith in God. The centenarian enjoys good health and walks around with the help of a walking stick.