Away from the bustling city amidst a serene setting, where you can feel the cool breeze and the lush green trees capture your attention, it’s not hard to locate Lourdes Lobo’s house along the tranquil roads of Camurlim, just a few minutes away from Mapusa.
The first thing you notice is the smile on her face that celebrates life. Born on December 8, 1908, Lourdes Lobo has seen it all. Right from the transition of colonial India to an independent one and to the two world wars the world has witnessed.
What sets Lourdes Lobo apart from many is not only her age but also the importance she gives to family values and prayer life. She has always made sure that these two things were a priority within the household. She taught her children to live by prayer from a young age and her children and grandchildren emphasize this as a key part that Lourdes has based her life upon and is living a life, cherished with family bonding, prayer and togetherness.
“Prayer has been something that my mother taught me since I was one year old. For four years, all my mother taught me was prayers, and not even ABC”, says Joanita Lobo, Lourde’s eldest daughter.
Her children recall that their mother was a very strict woman. She would never blame anyone else for any wrong that was done, and was always of the opinion that they (her children) must have done something first. “She would never blame somebody else’s child. We were always pulled up for any sort of mischievous behaviour. She was a very strict lady”, says Gemma Lobo, Lourdes Lobo’s daughter.
Recalling the times when she was strict, Brian Lobo, her son, narrates an incident that happened when he was 10 years old and had robbed something; something as small as an iron supplement. “She made me kneel in front of the altar and put hot wax on my palms. From that day onwards, I promised myself I would never steal from anybody. My sister and I would not take a single rupee from anyone. That was the kind of discipline she instilled in us”.
Like every grandmother, Lourdes also shares a very special bond towards her grandchildren. She always pampered every one of them. She does favour the girls; however, she doesn’t keep any favourite. To her, all are equal.
“My grandmother has kept our family together for many years. She always believed that functions such Christmas, New Year and Easter have to be family functions. Come what may, these have to be celebrated together. She always stuck firmly to her principle values of prayer and family togetherness” reminisces Jonathan, Lourdes Lobo’s grandson.
Lourdes Lobo has always been a ‘home-bird’. She doesn’t have any specific secret for her glorious life. However, her diet continues to be an important factor till today. “I don’t know about any secret, but I can tell you her diet includes an egg a day. She always has an egg per day, till today”, says Gemma.
Every birthday continues to be a grand gesture of celebration of the incredible but simple life that she is living. The family organises mass at the house, and also hosts over 50 plus guests for a fellowship. This has been happening since her 100th birthday. Such a magnificent life indeed calls for a celebration.
At 111, Lourdes Lobo continues to make family values and prayerfulness a priority. She has, and continues to be the strong pillar of the family, binding it together, always managing to bring upon happy smiles in her family.
ronnan
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