Centenarians celebrate 200th Birthday
Two 100-year-olds celebrating in one retirement community.
When Arvida Lauriston Park residents Joan Grice and Eunice Richardson turned 100 within weeks of each other, their retirement community found the perfect way to celebrate… a shared 200th birthday.
Joan turned 100 on the 23rd of June, while her friend and neighbour Eunice reached the milestone on 14th July. The two were treated to a ride through Cambridge town in a classic 1955 Oldsmobile. For Joan, the drive brought back plenty of memories. “I used to walk along these streets and thoroughly enjoy my walks. Oh, how it looks so different now,” she says.
Eunice was born in in Invercargill and was known as a both a creative and a devoted housewife. She loved to potter in her garden and was very skilled at baking elaborate wedding cakes, and knitting (a hobby she still enjoys today). Eunice enjoyed a marriage of almost 60 years and raised three children. “I’m just so overwhelmed by everything and I feel so lucky,” says Eunice on her special celebration.
Joan was born and raised in the Waikato, growing up with seven siblings before training as a teacher at Auckland Teachers College. She went on to enjoy a long and dedicated teaching career across Hamilton, Auckland, Tokoroa and Huntly, while also raising five children and continuing her own studies.
After retiring in 1989, Joan embraced her love of travel, visiting destinations including Europe, Japan, China, Egypt, South Africa, Antarctica, India and Thailand. Looking back on a century of life, Joan says she feels fortunate. “I’ve had a wonderful life, and I still have many friends from my younger days.”
Now both residing at the Cambridge village has meant lots of catch ups over morning tea as they celebrate their birthday milestones.