REDVERS — Not only did Freda Dauvin of Redvers recently celebrate her 100th birthday, but she also walked to the celebration.
A 100th birthday bash was held Aug. 8 at the town’s Golden Age Centre, a day after she hit the century milestone. Her daughter, Jo-Anne Clark, and daughter-in-law, Janet Dauvin, noted Freda still lives on her own in Redvers, although with the help of her sons Gerard and David.
Jo-Anne said her mother had a few options to get to the party but chose to walk the two blocks from her home.
“A friend had offered to come pick her up in a motorcycle and a sidecar, but she didn’t think she could do that,” said Jo-Anne. “He said he’d bring his convertible. And then we had a limousine want to come and pick her up, but she said she was going to use her pony legs. They worked for her all this time, and she thought it would just be fun to get there.”
At least 40 family members attended the event, they said, and many friends joined as well. Some people provided live music.
“She had a fabulous time at the birthday party,” said Jo-Anne. “She loves all the cards that she got.”
She was born Clara Elfreda Johnson on Aug. 7, 1926, and grew up on a farm in the Frys area, about eight kilometres east of Redvers. Freda was educated at a one-room schoolhouse at Oatlands. She married Gerard Dauvin in January 1946 in Bellegarde and lived at the Dauvin farm near Storthoaks until 1950, when they purchased a parcel of land. The couple raised five children.
Longevity runs in the family, they said, but Jo-Anne added hard work also played a big role in Freda reaching the century mark.
“She really did just live her life one day at a time,” said Jo-Anne. “She didn’t really worry about what happened and what was going to happen.”
Freda shares her birthday with her great-grandson Rook, who turned 10 on Aug. 7.
“So we joke that he went into his double digits and she went into her triple digits,” said Janet.
In addition to five kids, Freda has seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Janet added Freda loved her horses and animals. She still gardens, although not as much as she used to, and she loves watching birds and squirrels. She also walks around the block five times per week.
“She does play cards just about every evening, and that’s how we keep an eye on her, too. Gerard often goes over, and then everybody else joins in,” said Janet.
