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Aunty Stella still ‘batting’ at 100
Still exhibiting a passion for fashion, Ms. Stella Irene Burrowes gracefully joined the centenarian fraternity on September 12, last, a celebration which saw the coming together of her eight children, several grandchildren, great grandchildren, as well as many other relatives and friends. She was born in 1912.
During a visit to her 51 Gordon Street, Kitty, Georgetown residence yesterday, Kaieteur News was able to engage the still very vibrant ‘Aunty Stella’ in an extremely lively conversation.
A cheerful Aunty Stella strikes a pose
On learning that she would be featured in this newspaper, she immediately instructed the seventh of her children, Joy Fredericks, to find one of her best outfits. She also insisted that a pair of press-on earrings be placed on her ears before she was photographed. Feeling quite smart in her bright red garb, Aunty Stella smiled cheerfully for the camera but at the same time questioned “why all the fuss?”.
Though she is currently reluctant to move around on her own, six months before her birthday she was taking baths and washing clothes and even trying to busy herself in the kitchen. Today she is mostly confined to her bed after falling in the bath earlier this year. Another fall on her birthday has caused her to further lose confidence in her ability to move around by herself.
Aunty Stella has a passion for sewing and crochet, hobbies which had served her well back in the day, especially after losing her husband, Eric Burrowes, in the early 1980s.
“I can do embroidery and I used to crochet too…if a friend got a baby or so I would make the shimmy, but I don’t do it now…but I know I can still do it if I want,” said a very confident Aunty Stella as her fingers imitated the art of crocheting.
She revealed that she has been living in Kitty for many years and had given birth to 12 children some of whom, she said, have married to doctors, lawyers, pilots and even soldiers. She even remembered her late son-in-law West Indies batting star Roy Fredericks. “Can you remember Roy? He was a famous cricketer and whenever I see him I will tell him ‘This is the way to make a 100,” she mused as she considered her own age.
She remembers, too, that five of her children are currently residing in foreign countries, and even reflected that some live as far as Italy and Germany. She claims to have “about 60 grandchildren” but according to her daughter Joy, it’s probably around 35. She has about 25 great grandchildren.
According to Aunty Stella, she is very satisfied with her life, even as she stated firmly that she allows nothing to bother her. She revealed too that she prays everyday and reads her bible and a lot of other books too with the aid of reading glasses.
“I feel really good about my life. Once I don’t feel any pain I am alright,” she intimated yesterday.
Regarding her mother as very dedicated to her family, Joy, who resides in England but is presently visiting in Guyana, said that Aunty Stella has always been a hard worker. She recounted how her mother worked as a successful seamstress for many years and later added knitting and other handicraft to her portfolio in her later years, all aimed at bringing in “a handsome income”.
Aunty Stella in her early years was involved in Mothers Union and remains an active member of St James the Less Anglican Church situated at David Street, Kitty, partaking in Holy Communion on occasion.
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