Age is only a number; mind matters, Louisa hits a century

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 6,2017: Achiever, spinster of Kulshekar in the city, Louisa D’Silva has just hit a graceful century and it was joy for her and all around,  July 5 is the red letter day.

Louisa has been the eldest lady for a while in Kulshekar. Her 100 comes as with celebrations.  Louisa’s is special though as she has remained in the pink of health, not having visited a doctor ever. This she credits to living in the midst of medicinal plants around her house that have been nurtured by her and keeping actively active.

Louisa is the second of six children of Dominic and Clotilda D’Silva. Though born at Suralpady, she grew up at Sarakodi which belongs to the Cordel parish. After her initial schooling at St Agnes, she went on to do her teacher’s training at St Ann’s Teacher Training Institute here. Her sister Evelyn (92) is seated next to her in picture.

 

 

She remained a spinster and dedicated her life in educating children. She served in the Milagres School for a good 47 years. Even after her retirement at the age of 58, she continued her service for another 12 years by teaching tiny tots, it is recalled.

Louisa always was enthusiastic to live upto 100 years and she was sure of making it which is today proved true.  Her family members recall the wide variety of tasty pickles she always had for those who came to see her.  She was very creative and good at craft work too. In those times, where decorators were not available, she would make a variety of flowers with paper and beautify the house and help people who asked.

Age has naturally made her weak and is generally slow,  her mind is as fresh and alert surprisingly. Some her old students are now over 70 years.

Most of her students remember her ever for she is known  as ’Ghagro teacher’ (Ghagro is Konkani for skirt) she most often wore skirts of many different patterns and all colours.

Louisa, in a wheel chair, gave thanks at a holy mass in the Holy Cross church on July 5, Wednesday. The spirited teacher prefers to live alone in her home ’Sacred Heart’ in Kulshekar. Although her three brothers are no more, her birthday was attended by one of her younger sisters Evelyn (92). She has another younger sister Lenny (83), who lives in the US, but could not make it understandably - but social media compensated.

It is becoming more and more frequent to touch a hundred these days it may be observed. Even in the midst of much change and instability - medical science in an advancing mode is able to keep people healthy too and as Louisa feels in her case it is the ’mind that matters’.