Bernice Beattie celebrated at 103
Friends and family gathered together in the Wales Home living room on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate Bernice Beattie, who turned 103 on the 20th of July.
“I don’t know how I got there,” Beattie said, laughing as she was honoured by representatives of the Richmond Melbourne United Church, The United Church Women (UCW), Cleveland Township, The Richmond Hill Women’s Institute, the Richmond County Women’s Institute, and a range of other well-wishers.
Eileen Perkins, who organized the gathering, called Beattie a “grand lady” and said that she was pleased to see how things turned out.
“Everyone knows I love a party,” Perkins said while calling up guest speakers to take the floor one by one. “It’s so nice to see so many people.”
In addition to the thoughts and memories shared by members of the community, Beattie shared some of her own remembrances of days gone by. She recalled having taught school for 38 years in different parts of the province. The former teacher said that the last 15 years of her career were spent at Laval West Elementary School where, upon her retirement in 1975, she was presented with a watch that she still wears today.
“The rest of the time I was on the farm” Beattie added, “before we got a milking machine, I could milk cows.”
Those who spoke at the event shared stories of a woman who taught them valuable lessons about, patience, goodwill, and determination
“We gather to honour this vibrant lady,” Perkins said, “and to thank her for her spirit, generosity, friendship, caring, and probably mostly wisdom.”