Mona Knodell, a beloved resident of Thembalami Care Centre in Johannesburg, turned 100 on September 26.
Born in East London to Dora Marsden, Mona was one of five siblings. She spent her childhood between East London and Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal – an area that would later become her retirement home.
Mona married John Edward ‘Jack’ Knodell, and together they raised three children: Alan, Linda, and Terrence. When the children were young, the family moved to Chingola, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), where Jack worked in the copper mines. They often travelled back to South Africa to visit family, sharing stories of exciting but challenging train journeys.
Returning to Johannesburg for their children’s high school years, Mona worked for over 20 years as a secretary at AECI, supporting chemical engineers and forming close bonds with colleagues. The family later lived in Rembrandt Park, hosting regular weekend gatherings filled with swimming, laughter and family fun.
In retirement, Mona and Jack moved to Doonside near Amanzimtoti, cherishing memories of holidays spent in the area. They enjoyed over 40 happy years of marriage before Jack’s sudden passing at the age of 67. Mona endured further heartbreak in recent years with the loss of her children: Terrence in 2018, Alan in 2023, and Linda in August 2024.
Despite these losses, Mona remains surrounded by family and love. She now lives near her grandchildren, Dylan Watling and Leigh Nooy, and takes pride in her 10 great-grandchildren, who live both locally and overseas. Her granddaughter Leigh reflects: “She has lived an incredibly full life that spans over a century. She has had so many joyful and interesting experiences, and even with the heartache of recent years, she remains such a consistent and loved part of our family.”
Mona’s life has been rich with passions and simple pleasures. She has always loved singing, particularly classical music and golden oldies from the 1940s to 1960s, and she proudly performed in Eisteddfod competitions.
Faith, family and joy have always been central to Mona’s life. She once described her happiest moments as outings with her children and grandchildren, and expressed gratitude to her Heavenly Father for a long and fulfilling life.
Family, friends, and staff at Thembalami Care Centre celebrated this milestone with love and laughter, honouring Mona’s extraordinary 100 years.
