Living a healthy lifestyle has proven to be a benefit that most of us can only admire. Colette Richard's grandmother turned 100 years young on July 23, 2003, indicative of a healthy and happy lifestyle.
Colette's grandmother, Béatrice Roberge, was born in Beaumont, N.W.T. on July 23, 1903. She had eight children, two boys and six girls. She now has 27 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren and four great-great grand children. Béatrice is a firm believer in family and friendship and says that this is what she feels has kept her happy and healthy throughout the years.
Grandma Bea always led an active lifestyle. To keep active, Grandma used to spend a lot of time in her garden taking care of her fruit trees and flowers. She still goes to Trappers games and walks up and down the bleachers, walks to church and gets out to shop and visit with friends and family. To this day, Grandma still doesn't need a cane or a wheelchair. In fact, last winter she slipped and fell on the ice and didn't break a thing!
On top of remaining active, Grandma made sure she and her family were eating properly. Today, she still eats right but occasionally indulges in a sweet or a cold brew. But in true Healthy U spirit, Grandma took good care of herself and still has all of her own teeth.
Grandma was an accomplished seamstress, cook and a superb hostess. She liked her home and her children neat and tidy. Her and her husband, Ordonné Leroux, enjoyed a rich and rewarding life together for over 60 years until he passed away in April 1982.
She encouraged everyone in their education, and, because she loved music, she also encouraged them to pursue studies in this area. As her family grew up, she could devote more time to her own interests. Among those, was her participation in a group called Les Bonne Amies, who met to play cards on a regular basis. She also was an active member of Les Dames de Sainte-Anne.
In April 1949, Grandma was part of the group who founded the Sainte-Thérése Hospital's Ladies' Auxiliary in St. Paul. She continued to help out at the hospital by visiting with the sick even after she was no longer active in the group. More recently, she continues to knit little bonnets for babies in the neonatal unit, as well as knitted tubes for children's arm and leg casts. But her passion was arts and crafts. She was an active member, president and instructor of arts and crafts in St. Paul for over 20 years.
Grandma continues to enjoy good health, likes to be well groomed and maintains an interest in knitting cotton washcloths, doing jigsaw puzzles and hidden word puzzles, watching game shows and some soaps, baseball and hockey. She likes Don Cherry and loves the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadians. Most importantly, she loves to be with her large family.
On her birthday this year, Grandma received messages of congratulations from the Pope, as well as a message from Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, and Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and his wife, Aline.
Healthy body, healthy mind and certainly a healthy spirit. Here's to many more years!
