Irma Andrew, 101 years old and still going strong

Andrew celebrating her 100th birthday last year

On two occasions in the 1970’s, it was said she would not have survived serious illnesses but Irma Andrew of Soufriere has defied all odds and today (Friday) she is celebrating 101 years.

Andrew is not your typical centenarian. She drinks one Heineken every day, she sits by the roadside to chat with passers by, she takes a cold bath every day. “No hot water, never in my entire life,” she said.

But most importantly, she walks around without the assistance of anyone and is pretty much independent. “I go to the bathroom by myself, nobody have to feed me, I can do a lot of things on my own,” she boasts to Dominica News Online.

So what is the secret to her longevity? “Ask God, don’t ask me,” she told DNO with a burst of hearty laughter.

A staunch Catholic, she says her faith and her family have been instrumental throughout her long life. “My children have always been with me and this makes me happy,” she said.

Her faith, Andrew says, has always been the center of her life. “I grew up in church because my mother was always in church. I am a person of faith and if you want to live a long happy life, you too must have faith,” she pointed out.

Mondarie Lewis described her mother as a “bold person” who has not done anything special to live so long. “She is a really bold person, you know,” Lewis said. “If something is not right, she tells you as it is. But she is a loving, kind person who holds nobody on her heart. She is very forgiving.”

Lewis remembered twice in the 1970’s when serious illness overtook her mother  and people then predicted that she would have died. “All the people who predicted she was going to die have all died and she is still alive,” she said.

The centenarian has four children, 16 grandchildren, 22 great grand children and nine great, great grand children.

“It’s a big family and it’s all thanks to her,” Lewis said.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

47 Comments

  1. DOMINICAN CANADIAN.
    March 5, 2013

    God bless you my love. :lol:

  2. Anonymous
    November 19, 2012

    Don’t know her but she looks and sounds lovely. God’s blessings dear lady.

  3. Prince of Dominica
    November 19, 2012

    I love to see my people speaking about something so good, happy belated birthday ma-am! I am so happy to hear your story and if I was in Da I would surely sit and listen to you talk for as long as I could because I am sure you could teach us a lot about what you have learned in you 101years on our beautiful island.

  4. Bernard Birmingham
    November 19, 2012

    Happy Birthday Irma gods richest blessing to you

  5. TD
    November 18, 2012

    I WISH YOU MANY MORE YEARS, TO COME. AND MAY GOD KEEP ON BLESSING YOU ALWAYS.

  6. hm!
    November 17, 2012

    Congrats Mam!!!!May God continue to bless you.

  7. Tutunee
    November 17, 2012

    More blessings mam, heiniken check d lady eh, give her her drink for free, see her age and she drinking one a day, if she started drinking at 18, u know how many she drank in her life already, come on josephine gabrielle”

  8. Anonymous
    November 17, 2012

    Happy Birthday lovely lady.

  9. Wow
    November 17, 2012

    Congrats Mom your face says it all,continue your Heineken it works.

  10. PoKeSa
    November 17, 2012

    It’s so amazing to live such a grand old age. I know Ma Irma very well because as a boy this dear old lady always used to send me on errands for her. Her rewards to me was always prayers: I’ll pray for you for God to give you strength to grow upto be a man and live your life to have plenty children – stroking my head always.

    Today I’ve got 12 kids and another one is on the way – Ma Ilma certainly knew something that I didn’t know, her blessings.

  11. Justice and Truth
    November 17, 2012

    She looks well for 101 years. She is fortunate to be able to walk around and do everything for herself. Her strong faith and love of family keep her going.
    Cold water is good for us. Recall those days when we bathed in cold water and the river. At first the water feels cold but once we get under the shower and the water flows on us and as we swim in the river or just plunge in it, it feels good and refreshing. These days in the tropics, no one wants to bathe in cold water.
    It is healthy, better than warm/hot water.
    Happy Birthday to Mrs. Irma Andrew. You have overcome illness. I expect that God will keep you here for sometime yet. God bless you with many more years and health and strength.

  12. Amen
    November 16, 2012

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAME IMA ANDREW , YOU LOOK RELAX S AND I CAN SEE YOU WILL LIVE NANNY MANY MANY MORE YEARS WITH THE FAITH YOU HAVE IN YOUR GOD . I WILL DO THE SAME .

  13. malkassay in london
    November 16, 2012

    happy b/day to the best granny in the world love u too d maxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx may the good lord bless u always

  14. anonymous2
    November 16, 2012

    Hers is the last generation that will achieve 100 or over.

  15. DESIE
    November 16, 2012

    Heineken should be sending her a case or two once a month cause that’s a serious ad she just made for Heineken

  16. Puss
    November 16, 2012

    Happy Birthday, May you and your family be blessed

  17. C & E
    November 16, 2012

    That’s our grandma. As she truely says God is the reason that she is here today. We love her and we will continue to take good care of her. We wish her many more years, but as you all know it is all God’s doing. She is the phenomenal HEINEKEN lady. HEINEKEN PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

  18. November 16, 2012

    happy anniversary lovexxxxxxx from your grandsons yann aka. demuchie…dyann and earl best wishes coming from the malakasay crew round the world…..tito,doggy,teddy,pashie,cocoa,shattt andy etc.,.. and not forgetting the special one AC earl… love you granny we’re having one too many……
    wishing you a golden one with a platinum ahead with god blessings!!1……. .. kisssssseeeees!!!:

  19. Malkassay Doggy
    November 16, 2012

    Happy Birthday Grandma. From one of your grandson forever Doggy. You will always be a grandma to me cuz you are the best. Good bless and we want u to have another bless year in good health and keep on smiling. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA Andrew.

    De Dan Dada Original Malkassay Doggy showing much love to Irma Mama Andrew.

  20. om
    November 16, 2012

    wow

  21. kits
    November 16, 2012

    SHE LOOKS SO HAPPY AND CONTENT!!! SHE DOESN’T LOOK HER AGE ONE BIT!! MAY GOD BLESS U LADY AND HOPE U LIVE TO SEE MANY MORE BIRTHDAYS!

  22. Far from home(Canada
    November 16, 2012

    Love your smile, Have a happy Birthday keep smiling,God Bless

  23. dominica1 Toronto
    November 16, 2012

    Ah God Bless her soul

  24. LIMINGLUCY
    November 16, 2012

    SHE IS TRULY A QUEEN…HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

  25. Faith
    November 16, 2012

    Ma Andrew may God continue to keep you in his hands. Trust God and pray always you will live to see many more birthdays. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WE LOVE YOU*********

  26. african queen
    November 16, 2012

    very happy blessed lady keep well mama.

  27. DANZIGER
    November 16, 2012

    Happy birthday madame enjoy yr day.

  28. True that
    November 16, 2012

    I love her answer “ask God”. Too many times we act as if our days on earth are our own doing.

    • Hmmm
      November 16, 2012

      Amen!

    • Justice and Truth
      November 17, 2012

      When I read it I also laughed. Yes! God is in control. She is indeed a lady of strong faith. As contained in the New Testament: All things work for good to those who love God. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Light.” Faith, hope and trust.

  29. Mr,Gouty
    November 16, 2012

    On her face one can see love shining.Happy birthday to Dame,Andrew

  30. Pondera
    November 16, 2012

    What devine favour

  31. LadyLiberty
    November 16, 2012

    Happy Birthday!!! Long life and good health to you Ma Irma!

  32. Lis
    November 16, 2012

    lol. This is some serious ad for Heineken company

    • Justice and Truth
      November 17, 2012

      I am certain one drink a day will not kill a person. It is said that if people drink, be it wine, they should drink no more than one per day for health reasons. It is excellent advertising for Heineken. The management would be happy to hear that.

    • Justice and Truth
      November 17, 2012

      Just remembered, Heineken could use her in their advertisement/commercial. :) She will make a good advertiser. Where is Heineken? Have they not yet heard? :)
      I think I will try a Heineken sometime. :lol: Will also pass the information on. Some people would like to hear that. We live and we learn.
      When I go to the beer store I will inform the customer service people about it. I bet they will have a good laugh over it and of course pleased to hear that. Good advertisement for them as well. :)

    • November 17, 2012

      Congratulation to Dame Irma Andrew for sharing your birthday with the world we just continue to paray the good Lord will keep on shining on you must respect to you. I hope that the agency on Dominica that is dristrubing ” HEINEKEN ” will find it in their hearts to drop of a case as a bithday gift to her please, and I agree that is good ad for the product.
      Again may God bless you always.

  33. November 16, 2012

    Happy birthday to u on your big special day n let the almighty keeping sending showers of blessings up on u…!

  34. November 16, 2012

    with God grace and mercy you have made it to that age. May God continue to bless you as long as you live congratulation on your birthday.Keep having faith in the almighty.GOD BLESS YOU

  35. grell
    November 16, 2012

    HAPPY BDAY Irma,dno very disappointed could have gotten a picture of her today.

  36. sorry
    November 16, 2012

    happy birthday and i will make my faith stronger so i can live long life

  37. God is Good
    November 16, 2012

    Congrats Ms. Irma, Such a nice lady. hope u live to see many more years. All the best. Enjoy ur day and Gods blessing upon u

  38. k.Anselm
    November 16, 2012

    CONGRATULATIONS, may you live to be another 100 minus a day so we Never know that a humble lady of such great Faith has moved on.Keep the Faith.

    • yes i
      November 16, 2012

      @k.Anselm
      Why the ‘minus a day’? Such a nice post except for the negative.

  39. Just Saying
    November 16, 2012

    Phenomenal. What a milestone.

  40. felita thomas
    November 16, 2012

    happy birthday If faith in God is what keeps you alive I will do the same

  41. DEE DEE
    November 16, 2012

    CONGRATS MA’AM I WISH TO LIVE LONGER THAN YOU……

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available