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Seychelles’ oldest citizen celebrates 108th birthday   |04 January 2024

Seychelles’ oldest citizen  celebrates 108th birthday   

Memer on the day of her 108th birthday

Noemie Benoit, affectionately called ‘Memer’ by her family, relatives and friends, celebrated her 108th birthday on January 2. She is now the oldest person in Seychelles.

She received special blessings and the Holy Eucharist from the Cascade parish priest, Father Herman, surrounded by some of her grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren as well as other family members and close family friends. Memer had only one daughter, whom she lost in 2020 at the age of 85 years old.

Also present at the celebration were Cascade district administrator and a representative of the Ministry responsible for Family and Ministry of Local Government.

The director general for CommunityAffairs, Denise Clarisse, presented Mrs Benoit with a basket of goodies and a greetings card on behalf of the President of the Republic and conveyed his good wishes for a happy birthday and a prosperous year.

The director of Programmes for the Elderly, Raisa Cadeau, also presented a basket on behalf of the Minister for Youth, Sports and Family. The district administrator, Begita Melanie, presented a token on behalf of the district authorities and Christine Chetty presented a token of congratulations and good health to Memer on behalf of the Cascade Family Council.

Despite old age, Memer remains very cheerful, welcoming and cracking jokes. She is mentally very alert with an impeccable memory. She recalls almost everything from the distant past to the present day in the nitty gritty details. Physically, she is in a fair state of health apart from the occasional joint pains associated with old age.

She lives on her own in her house which is in the same compound as the family home and family members attend to her daily needs and chores.

Mrs Benoit says she is happy especially when she has the visit of family members and when on video call with her grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren who live or are studying overseas.

“I am very happy to see all my grandchildren along with their owns and all the great grandchildren. I am happy that they take good care of me,” she said.

She is a fervent Roman Catholic who takes her faith very seriously. She regrets that she can no longer attend church services though she follows on the radio. She is thankful for the occasional visits by the parish priest who administers the eucharist in her home.  

Mrs Benoit is very fond of tuber crops which she says is the secret to longevity. She also adores the nougat.

 

Contributed

 

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