THE Guyana Chronicle extends hearty congratulations and very best wishes to centenarian Mrs. Bibiana Hernandez of Bumbary Hill, Mabaruma Sub-Region, North West District in Region One (Barima Waini) who will be celebrating her 101st birth anniversary today.
Fondly referred to as ‘Mama’, Mrs Hernandez is being affectionately cared for by her grandson and his wife, Paul and Edna Hernandez, and her great-grandchildren.
Possibly the oldest person in the Mabaruma Sub-Region, Mrs Hernandez was born on December 2, 1912 at Barima River, where she grew up and was later married to Diaz Hernandez. Together they migrated to Bumbary Hill, where Mr Hernandez eventually died.
The union with her husband, Diaz, produced eight wonderful children — three boys and five girls. They were all educated at Hosororo Roman Catholic Primary School, and each did his/her parents proud.
Today, her children and grand-children still have proud recollections of the ‘looker’ Mrs Hernandez had been during her youthful days. She is of mixed ancestry, and has a combination of Spanish, African, Portuguese and Arawak (Amerindian) extractions, her granddaughter, Bernadette Mc Kinnon, recalls. “She had long, black, curly hair and big hips,” Bernadette added.
“Oh, but she was a faithful soul. She would round the family up and, every Sunday, walk more than one mile to Mass at the Hosororo Roman Catholic Church. Mama never liked to miss a Sunday Mass,” she recalled.
“Mama’s daily routine was to get up by 4:00 hrs promptly, offer prayers, then prepare breakfast. She’d then pack the children’s lunch kits, and by 5:00 hrs, she and grandpa would head off to the farm in the backlands. There they’d work until noon, then return home.
“On the farm they planted ground provisions, citrus fruits, cocoa and coffee beans, and that probably led to her avid love for coffee as a beverage. In fact, up until now, she delights in a strong, hot cup of coffee to complement her favourite: hot pepper pot with cassava bread.
“And naturally, at her age, her next favourite would be soup with shredded chicken; but, generally, she eats most anything that is not too hard on her stomach.
“In times gone by, she also reared poultry and had lots of yard (creole) fowls,” Bernadette recounts.
Bernadette had this to say about Mama’s health condition: “Oh, she’s a very strong woman. She’s blessed! Mama’s never been known to visit any doctor routinely, nor does she have hypertension or the dreaded diabetes.
“As she passed through life, she was always preoccupied with preparing some sort of ‘bush concoction’ (herbal medicine) which kept her and the family in good shape. However, she’s now hearing impaired and even though somewhat visually impaired as well, she sees sufficient to make a habit of sitting on a bench out in the yard where she would watch the children play football.
“Last December when she turned 100, the family held a big celebration for Mama, and relatives from near and far made it a point of duty to be at her side to share the joys of her special moment. There were gifts, a beautifully made birthday cake, lots to eat and drink, and the priest celebrated a Holy Mass in the home in her honour.
“This time around, it promises to be less elaborate, but she’s thanking God for His love and mercies; for health and strength; for caring family members, and to be able to live in a home where love abounds.”
Written By Shirley Thomas
