Long life for Naomi
In 1913 Woodrow Wilson was the US president, Charlie Chaplin started his movie career and the first Model T Fords rolled off the assembly line. And on September 13 that year, Gracelands Lifestyle Care’s oldest resident Naomi Merrall was born.
Last Thursday Naomi enjoyed a special lunch with her daughter, a trip to the hairdresser, and a birthday cake and present from the team at Gracelands.
A resident of Gracelands Lifestyle Care since 2015, Naomi started life in Wellington, and as a small girl she remembers travelling from Napier to Gisborne by boat because there were no roads. She met her husband Aubrey when she was working as a shorthand typist for Hannah’s shoes in Wellington. During World War II Naomi worked as a typist in the census and stats office and Naomi and Aubrey married in 1940 and moved to Hawke’s Bay when he returned from war in the Pacific.
They bought a grocery dairy in Mahora in 1946 — Linda, their only child, was born six years later.
After selling the shop they moved to Heathcote Road, then to Ngaio Street in Mahora, where Naomi lived until June, 2015 before coming to Gracelands.
Naomi has three grandchildren, one great grandchild and another on the way. She was a cook and baker and enjoyed gardening, walking and indoor bowls.
Her secret to a long life has been good food with few preservatives — and the occasional treat.