Aunty May as locals proudly prefer to call her, has lived through two world wars and witnessed the rise and fall of apartheid in South Africa. Her husband, Lawrence Gomez, a German fisherman, and some of her siblings have since died.
“I am most likely the oldest woman alive in Kalk Bay,” jokes Aunty May, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday in March this year. She will be practically a century old.
When Gomez was still alive, they stayed in Constantia and Wynberge, regions that were predominantly occupied by whites, before moving to Kalk Bay. She recalls the apartheid regime had classified her as coloured, though the residents did not have a problem with her residing in their territories.
She seems to be in perfect health. But what is her secret to long life?
“Actually there is no secret,” she says. “Yes, I struggle to member much of the past, but I don’t have a real secret to living this long. If God says my time is not yet up, then that is it,” says Aunty May.
Her niece, Margaret Baker, 57, takes care of her. Baker says May has raised many children, but she is still strong and independent.
“She can even dance. In fact, she loves dancing, and chocolates,” says Baker.
Clearly, there is no secret to living long. According to Aunty May, all it takes is prayer, eating chocolate, and dancing a lot.
