Helena Novika, a resident of the long-term social care department of Kuldiga Hospital, celebrated her 102nd birthday on April 10, the Kuldiga Hospital reported on social media.
With songs, good wishes, and flowers, the staff and residents of the ISAN "Valtaiki" department congratulated the birthday girl.
In response to a question about her feelings at such an advanced age, Helena said:
"I think little about my years. In the past, when I was at home, I celebrated birthdays, and friends and relatives would come to congratulate me. The brightest memory remains my 40th birthday when we served meat that we had raised ourselves, and the hostess helped to stew it!"
Helena has been living in the department since February of last year. In her time, she worked at the Brocēni post office, from where she sent mail by night train. Later, she worked as a telephone operator at the Brocēni cement plant.
She recalls with particular warmth how she traveled around Latvia with her husband in a "Zhiguli":
"My family is large, but now scattered all over the world — my great-grandchildren live in Switzerland, Thailand, and Latvia."
The secret to longevity, according to Helena, is simple: "The consumption of bee products — bee bread, flower pollen, and honey."
And her wish for the younger generation is concise and very accurate: "Try to be good people."
