Enid Bernard: A lifetime of teaching and joyful living

Enid Bernard who spent her life as a teacher is celebrating her retirement years as a centenarian.

At 100 years old, she continues to enjoy life to the fullest, blessed with all five senses intact, embracing each moment with gratitude.

"I was telling someone that we have a lot of centenarians in the family. My mother's grandmother lived for a very long time, my aunties and their children were all over 100," she proudly told THE STAR.

Bernard said that her mother Nina Bernard, died at 98 years old. Bernard, who celebrated her 100 birthday in April, is the eldest of Nina's six children.

Jamaica celebrated Centenarians Day yesterday. As part of this year's celebrations, the National Council for Senior Citizens, a department within the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, honoured centenarians throughout the island. Some of these trailblazers and community builders were visited and presented with tokens of appreciation.

Bernard dedicated her professional life to shaping young minds. She began her journey as a teacher at Winchester Primary School in St Thomas and later at Harbour View All-Age School where she worked until her retirement.

The centenarian attends the St Boniface Church in Harbour View, where she has been recognised for faithful and dedicated service to the Sunday school ministry. She told THE STAR that despite her age, she is able to perform many tasks around the house.

"I do everything here. I wash, I tidy the house and I can sweep the yard. The only thing I don't do is ironing," Bernard said.

She also boasts of her ability to travel alone, via bus, from her home to downtown Kingston. However, her 60-year-old son, Ludlow, has insisted that she does not leave the house unaccompanied.

"He takes me to church on Sunday mornings and when I am coming back somebody from church takes me home," she said of her son who she hopes will live to reach the century mark like her. She is confident in her family's history of good health stating that they are not troubled by severe health issues.

"One aunty was blind, but she was very bright all the same. I have another aunty, her mouth was very strong," chuckled the elderly woman, who also answers to the names Miss Ruby and Tita.

"I eat alright, I eat anything! I [even] go to town by myself, but my son does not want me to go," the senior citizen said.

She admitted that while her family seems to have been blessed with long life, making it to 100 was not something on her mind when she was growing up.

"I never imagined living to be this age, even though my aunties lived much longer lives. I didn't consider myself to be doing anything extraordinary," she reflected.

She emphasised that living an honest and virtuous life, along with helping others whenever possible, certainly played a significant role in her overall well-being.