Sitting in a sunlit, airy conservatory overlooking lush green gardens in the heart of Armagh city is not where Emma Donald thought she would be celebrating her 96th birthday… but she honestly couldn’t be happier!
Emma moved into Sunnymead Residential Living on the Portadown Road just a few months ago, in October.
For over fifty years she made 19 Orangefield Park her home and leaving it, aged 95, was no easy decision.
But Emma now says “I was selfish!”, and today (January 21) celebrating yet another year of life, with a homemade cake on her knee, beautifully wrapped gift and card on perched at the side of her armchair and surrounded by pink ’96’ balloons, she’s only too delighted to have made the leap!
Speaking to Armagh I, the bright as a button Emma said: “When I came out of hospital, I think it’s around three years ago but I’m not sure, my son wanted me to come here and I wouldn’t hear tell of it. But now I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. It’s a wonderful, wonderful place.
“As I say, I was selfish and I wasn’t thinking of Elaine and Walter [her children] and the responsibility that they had seeing that I was alright. It was a hard thing to do but I’m very, very thankful now. I’m happy and I know they have peace of mind that I’m well cared for.”
Reflecting on some of her happiest moments at the top of the list was marrying the love of her life, George.
While the years have become somewhat jumbled and she couldn’t quite pin point the year they were wed, Emma recalled thinking she would have lived out her days as a spinster!
She met George a little later than what was custom at the time, aged 30. The year may have escaped her, but the memory did not. She remembered their wedding ceremony in Kildarton Church like it was yesterday.
They went on to have two children, Elaine and Walter, both of whom she couldn’t conceal her pride in. Of her entire extended family she said simply, “They’re all wonderful”.
Emma was “born and reared” on the family farm halfway between Armagh and Markethill. She moved with her parents “into town” at age 14.
Her first home with George – who sadly passed away in his 50s – was in Lisanally. There they stayed a few years before moving on to Orangefield… where she went on to become the oldest female resident.
In terms of her work life, Emma said she did her fair share on the family farm before they moved. Then they did move, they opened the Homeside Café in Armagh city.
About two years later, Emma’s father passed away. So she and her mother, Lucinda – known as Lucy – ran the café together thereafter.
Emma shared an incredibly close bond with her mother, saying she was with her “all my life” and cared for her in her home right up until she died in her 80s.
To this day, Emma maintains an uplifting sense of humour. While reflecting on her life and memories, she joked about not worrying about the calories that come with birthday cake anymore, adding: “I can’t worry about my figure now… it’s going all shapes!”
When asked did she feel 96 years old, she laughed: “Oh, every bit of it!”
And, aged 93 or 94 someone said to her, “If you live to 100, you’ll get a letter from the Queen,” and in typical Emma fashion, she wittily replied, “If that’s the case, I says, what on earth age is the Queen going to be?”
Emma’s family planned a special birthday party at her daughter’s home in the afternoon, something she was very much looking forward to.
They also sent the balloons and a special letter to Sunnymead that morning which read: “To Mum, You’ve been loved for 96 years. That is 1,152 months, 4,992 weeks, 35,040 days, 840,960 hours, 50,457,600 minutes… and counting. Love from us all xx”
With any luck, we can revisit her in four years to see if she got a letter… from the King.
