Centenarian's sensible advice
Born in 1906 Mary Sheehan celebrates her 102 birthday today the 7th February.
Mary was only 17 when she arrived in Wellington from Lebanon with her husband Stephen and small daughter Ruby. Heavily pregnant her first son Alick was born not long after they arrived. In fact it was a miracle that they even made it to New Zealand. The first time they tried to board the ship they were turned away because Ruby had Ring Worm.
The second time they left the shore in the row boat and they got half way out to the ship and the captain stopped the boat and demanded double the money. Mary’s not sure what happened but they made it to the ship unharmed.
Mary’s given name in Lebanon was Wadea but she took on Mary as her English name when she arrived in New Zealand. Speaking no English Mary, with help from Alick, used to point to the things she wanted in the shop. Mary and Stephen made Hawera their home. Stephen’s brother had the local drapery store and another brother set up the original cannery in the district.
Stephen had a purpose built van built to operate a rural drapery service. Farmers didn’t have cars in those days so Stephen used to travel throughout the district every two weeks offering clothes, blankets, linen and the like.
Stephen died in 1967 and Mary lived independently until four years ago when she moved into Chalmers Home. Her son Alick notes “I doubt mum would be alive today if it wasn’t for the care she receives at the Home”. “There is a very low turnover of staff at Chalmers which I sincerely believe attributes to the residents good health and wellbeing”, he said.
Many family and friends from all over the world have converged onto New Plymouth to celebrate Mary’s significant milestone.
