There were smiles all round at Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre when resident Olive Jew celebrated her 102nd birthday on February 3.
According to Simoné Botha, the care centre’s occupational therapy and recreation manager, Olive remains as vibrant as ever.
“Mrs Jew is still healthy, strong and full of smiles as always. She regularly comes to the REC Centre and joins in all our events,” says Simoné.
Olive marked the occasion with a beautiful birthday cake, her trademark smile lighting up the celebration.
Born in Johannesburg in 1924, Olive moved to Rand Aid’s Elphin Lodge Retirement Village in 1997, where she lived for many years before relocating to Ron Smith Care Centre six years ago.
Her daughters, Carol-Ann Hallam and Liz Wallis, previously attributed their mother’s longevity to her upbeat outlook on life.
Over the years, Olive has enjoyed a wide range of interests, including art, sewing, bridge, gardening, travelling and entertaining. A talented watercolourist, she also started the Art Club at Elphin Lodge nearly three decades ago.
Married to engineer Harold for 49 years, Olive spent most of her life in Johannesburg, Benoni and Edenvale, becoming known for her warm nature and genuine interest in others.
