Amazing Grace turns 102

Grace Snook with daughter Jill and son-in-law Glynn Jones.

Gracious Grace Snook celebrated her 102^nd birthday in the company of friends and family on May 18, 2017.

The smiling, quick-witted woman was seated at the head of the table at Elphino’s, the coffee shop of the grounds of Rand Aid’s Elphin Lodge retirement village. After living independently until the grand age of 101, Grace moved into the complex’s Ron Smith Care Centre around six months ago.

When someone joked that her next big celebration would be her 110^th birthday, Grace’s legendary sense of humour came to the fore, and she responded, “I hope you have wings.”

Born in Southern Rhodesia in 1915, during WWI, Grace and her late husband Cecil had two children, daughter Jill and son Donald.

Always a lover of sport – both as a spectator and participant – at the age of 100 Grace was still cooking for herself and doing container gardening.

Helen Petrie, the Elphin Lodge complex manager, presented Grace with a beautiful card and flowers. “We are blessed to have Grace as one of our residents,” she said.

Birthday girl Grace Snook with Elphin Lodge complex manager Helen Petrie and Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s Manager: Recreational Programmes, at her 102^nd birthday party.

Grace Snook takes pride of place at the head of the table at her 102^nd birthday celebration.