Newspaper Article 2017 – Belated party for 101-year-old

Belated party for Hawke’s Bay 101-year-old

By Anneke Smith
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This time last year Joyce Le Comte was supposed to be celebrating her 100th birthday but instead fell ill and was eventually taken to hospital in the wake of the gastro crisis.

One year later and now in good health, Mrs Le Comte is turning 101 and intends to celebrate in high spirits after missing out on the big birthday event.

“I never celebrated because I wasn’t well, I had no appetite. I hope to celebrate this year,” she said.

Born an identical twin during World War I, Mrs Le Comte grew up in Pakipaki and survived the Hawke’s Bay earthquake in 1931 which struck on the first day of her second year of high school.

After a short stint in Carterton she returned to Hawke’s Bay and has remained in the region til now.

A working woman, she spent eight years working as a housekeeper, four years at the Farmers’ tea rooms and almost 10 years at the Tomoana freezing works.

The highlight of her life? Marrying her husband, Ted, whom she met at the works.

“He was a lovely man, he’s been gone 37 years.

As I tell people when they ask where you met your husband, I say in the most romantic place in the world; Tomoana freezing works. They can’t beat that.”

“As I tell people when they ask where you met your husband, I say in the most romantic place in the world; Tomoana freezing works. They can’t beat that.”Joyce Le Comte

They lived together for 60 years on the corner of Grays and Eaton Rds and it wasn’t until just under four years ago that she moved into the Mary Doyle retirement village.

“It’s been absolutely one of the best moves I ever made.

“It’s been absolutely wonderful. Especially the staff, they’d do anything for you.”

Her twin died about 21 years ago.

With impaired eyesight, Mrs Le Comte spends her days listening to the radio and receiving visits from her four nephews and extended family.

“They’re wonderful to me, absolutely wonderful. They’d do anything for me, so I’m very lucky.”

She recalled her many trips abroad to Australia, Canada, the United States and Europe as experiences she dreamed of as a young girl in school but never thought she would actually do.

“I suppose I don’t feel old.”

“I know I’m old but I don’t feel old. It sounds a bit silly but I don’t,” she chuckled.

“I feel I’m lucky that I can still get around at this age. I’m in a wonderful place, it’s absolutely wonderful here.”

Her family are sworn to secrecy about today’s birthday plans. Mrs Le Comte said she suspected they may be going out for lunch but wouldn’t be finding out until the big day.

“This is my life now and I’m very, very happy here. Couldn’t be happier.”

Photo caption – CELEBRATING THE YEARS: Joyce Le Comte is finally having a proper birthday celebration, after she fell ill just before her 100th birthday last year.
PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN