On April 5th, Mrs. Erna Liefdemeyer-Koot turned 100 years old! Born in Indonesia, she has been living in care home Langedael in Vaals for over 11 years and still enjoys every single day.
In her younger years, Erna worked as a nurse in Indonesia, where she also met her husband. In the late 1950s, she made the 30-day boat journey from Java to the Netherlands. After living in Alkmaar and Amsterdam-West, the couple eventually chose beautiful Vaals as their forever home.
So what is her secret? According to Erna herself:
- Never smoked or drank 🚭
- Always enjoyed sweets though 🍬
- Staying positive and looking forward, not back
- Being grateful for everything life has brought
On April 29th, she got a bonus celebration when the mayor visited with flowers and chocolate. When he pointed at the chocolate, she tapped his hand and said with a smile: ‘Yes yes, I will get to it, young man.’ What a legend! 🎉
Her niece Carmen visits weekly and confirms: Erna is still super active, loves watching the Tour de France, and enjoys classic films with Danny Kaye or John Wayne.
Source: Gemeente Vaals
