Yesterday, in Pointe aux Sables, family and friends gathered to celebrate the hundredth birthday of Mrs Marie Julia Lamour, in the presence of the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS), Mrs Marie Christiane Dorine Chukowry.
To mark the occasion, the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity gave Mrs Lamour a cheque of Rs 21,836; a domestic appliance; a bouquet of flower; the centenarian medal; and a certificate for her service.
In addition, the National Solidarity Fund of the Ministry offered her a cheque of Rs 10,000. She moreover received some gifts from the Senior Citizen Council.
The new Centenarian attributes her longevity to her faith in God and good actions.
Mrs Marie Julia Lamour, known as ‘Grand-mère Badoune’, was born in Port Louis and was the eldest of a family of seven children, with all her siblings having passed away. Mrs Lamour lost her parents at a young age and was looked after by her uncle and aunt. She studied up to Standard IV.
In 1941, she married Mr René Lamour with whom she had three sons and three daughters. Her husband, who was an ex-serviceman, died in 1987. Mrs Lamour has two grandchildren.
