A 'sherry' happy birthday

10/7/2009

Vera Muszynski today revealed the secret to a long and healthy life.

The Magna West Somerset tenant, who lives in Alcombe near Minehead, has celebrated her 100th birthday.

“Plenty of hard work and a tipple of sherry a day,” Vera told friends and family at a special party held at Kildare Lodge.

Born in Taunton in 1909, Vera moved to Minehead in search of work during the depression of 1935 and found it as a laundry assistant.

And it was in the resort she met and married her first husband, Marcus Jewell, a year later.
Sadly, Marcus was killed on active service in the Royal Navy in 1940, with Vera remaining a widow for the next 34 years.

However, in 1974 she married Zenon Muszynski, with the wedding reception held at Kildare Lodge.

The couple enjoyed 19 years together before Zenon passed away in 1993.

Vera has one daughter, Marlene, from her first marriage, along with three grandchildren – Nigel, Mark and Nicola.

She also has five great grandchildren and four great, great grandchildren, making up five generations of the family.

Aside from laundry and domestic work, Vera also spent 25 years as a dinner lady at Minehead Infants  in Higher Town.

Magna sheltered housing officer, Emma Francis, added: “We congratulate Vera on her 100th birthday and here’s to many more. She is such a lovely person and has a great sense of humour and a happy outlook on life.

“I know she has always kept active, enjoying cooking, reading and gardening, and has spent many happy hours with her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great, grandchildren.

“Vera just doesn’t miss a trick and still reads a daily paper to catch up on the news.”