Another Dominican has joined the ranks of those living long enough to celebrate their hundredth birthday.
Marian Victor, nee Pacquette, was born one hundred years ago today on February 26, 1913 at Bioche.
Victor, known by some as Ma Victor, Ma Marian, Mari attended the all age Dublanc Government School up to the age of 15 but lack of opportunity for women at that time did not allow her to fulfill her potential.
Tragedy struck three days before her 31st birthday on February 23, 1947, when her husband died leaving her with three children to care for.
Being a resourceful person she proceeded to become a thriving huckster. She farmed and purchased agricultural products and travelled by schooners to the Leeward and Virgin Islands and returned to Dominica with goods to sell to shops.
She embraced the opportunity to migrate to the United Kingdom in 1956 and in the process facilitated and financed many a relative and friends to do the same, providing boarding and lodging before they settled in a job.
Ma Marian worked as a hospital ward orderly for 16 years in the UK during which time she demonstrated her true social kindness as a Mother Theresa at work and at home; caring counselling, advising, directing and feeding especially the young people.
She still tries, with her strong willed, no nonsense personality, to admonish and advise her many visiting family and friends.
She came back to Dominica in December 1980 but returned to the UK in May 1999. She lived with her daughter until January, 2009 when she moved into the St. Anne’s Care Home in North London.
She has two living children: Raglan Victor and Eugenia ‘Meave’ Victor-Davis.
Ma Marian attributed her long life to unending prayers with her rosary being her major companion, good food to include fresh fruits, ground provisions (yams, tanias, cush-cush, dasheen) and fresh fish plus her robust and active way of life.
A special birthday Mass will be held today (Tuesday) in the Chapel of St Anne’s followed by a small gathering of close relatives, and residents and staff of the Care home.
Congratulations Aunty!Your words confirm that you still miss your favourite sis Mambrine. Your constant prayers, the fresh fruits, vegetables and fish you continue to eat and the very special care that you are receiving from Meave, Raglan and family and the staff of the Nursing home will help you to reach another milestone.
We all were elated during the birthday celebrations with family friends and staff of the nursing home that you are well recognized with distinguished messages from the Pope, Queen Elizabeth, the MP from Hackney in person and the many family, friends and well wishers from Dominica and elsewhere.
We must say a big thank you to DNO and the other media enterprises for letting the world know that we are graced wiith yet another centenarian.
Happy birthday mammy, granny. You could be both to me. Love you.
Is that her picture at 100? If so, she has a long way to go still. Her fighting spirit benefited her and the natural foods that she ate added to her longevity. Long lives a great centenarian.
Hey Gran. Big love & congratulations on your 100th birthday. May God Bless you.
The secret to longevity??? Fresh Fish and an Iron Determination.
Love you Granny!!!!!
I KNOW MA VICTOR VERY WELL .WHEN I WAS LEAVING IN BIOCHE BEFORE I WENT AWAY.SHE SAID TO ME ONE TIME .EAT FISH LIVE LONG .I NEVER STOP UP TILL TODAY……GOOD JOB ..
Some of us are blessed with good thoughts and and a loving heart..this is aunty Marian. I am sorry that I could not make it in person, but I was there in spirit (sigh). You are always in my prayers aunty. May god bless you with what ever your heart desire.
Congrats
Huron
Happy birthday. Sounds like a life well lived, congrats.
Ma Marian Victor,you have bridged a life that many of us will want to wish to live and see!!….
Thanks for your dedicated contributions to others and a good examples of life for/to us!!…Happy birthday to you…Much health and strength!!!!God bless!!
happy birthday cuz will visit you on friday
thats great.happy birthday. wishing you many more .
Eh eh, she lives just down the road from me. I wonder if she would accept a visit from a stranger? And she looks just like my mum of 82yrs. Same face, same hair. So uncanny!
God Bless you Ma Marian, 100 years today! AMEN! XXX
HAPPY BDAY MY LADY,YOU HAVE LIVED A GREAT LOVING LIFE.MAY THE GOOD LORD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU.ONE LOVE
Happy birthday mummy, you are blessed
WOW! Congrats on reaching this milestone. May the Good Lord bless and strengthen you.
Happy Bday Aunty!!!!!! I wish Bambrine where here with you……..
Hi, Happy 100th birthday to you Miss Victor.
Happy birthday to you my dear.. 100 years indeed a very long long time. I am happy that u said about unending prayers and the rosary.. I just know these two works well
Congratulations mama on reaching the milestone. May the Lord grant you eternal blessings on this special day.
Happy and blessed birthday to her….great woman
You are blessed!
THIS IS GOOD TO SEE, AND THE REASON SHE IS STILL A LIVE IS BECAUSE BACK IN THE DAY WE HAD GOOD BEGINING, FRESH FOODS, NO CHEMICALS, WE WALKED TO EVERYWHERE GOOD EXERCISE NO OBESITY….NOW WE WANT TO LIVE LIKE THOSE LAZY AMERICANS!!!
Auntie Marian,
Big congratulations to you Auntie.
100 years old!!!!!!
How it must have been a struggle for you being a young widow. But you lived by prayer and helping those who needed your help.
And of course fresh food and fish.
That is a lesson to us all.
My wife always talk about you, how you made her laugh at your 95th birthday in England.
GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL THE FAMILY (ESPECIALLY YOUR CHILDREN RAGLAN AND MEAVE) ON THIS SPECIAL DAY AND ALWAYS.. GOD BLESS.
LOVE ALWAYS
Congratulations Ma Marian Victor! The Almighty will continue to bless you with longevity and healthy living. We are proud of you as a daughter of our beloved island.
Congrats hence why i am proud to be dominican
she dont look that age
she is well kept.
First birthday blessings to Miss M we the young generation don’t live like you did because we harassed ourselves to much and never satisfied with what we have always complaining so before we strike twenty we look older than half your age to much drugs and high life in the dew of the night again happy birthday God bless you and your family
congrates to this woman,
Congratulations on your 100th birth anniversary. There will be more to celebrate. Good food, fresh fruits and vegetables, and most of all, LOVE. Great combination to living a long, fruitful life.