Margaret Higginbottom celebrated her 10th birthday two weeks ago. Joining her for the special occasion were her three children Robert (far left), Herb and Blanche. (Keith Lacey photo)
Margaret Higginbottom was surrounded by her family – and plenty of love – as she recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
Higginbottom officially celebrated her special birthday two weeks ago.
She was all smiles as her three children – Robert, Herb and Blanche – as well as her grandchildren and great grandchildren, along with dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews gathered in a meeting room at Shores Restaurant in Osoyoos to say hello, wish her well and share a large birthday cake.
Up until four months ago, Higginbottom lived in the same home that she lived in for many years on Sidley Mountain east of Osoyoos, but failing health forced her to move to Mariposa Gardens in Osoyoos not long before Christmas, said her son Herb.
His mother was born in Grindrod, B.C. and lived in that small community up until her late teenage years, when she met her future husband and moved to the Bridesville area, where she lived most of her life, he said.
“Dad spent his entire career in the logging and forestry industry and mom stayed at home and raised her children,” he said. “She always had a passion for the Okanagan Valley and never once showed any desire to leave this place.”
While his mother doesn’t speak a lot due to her tender years, she fully understood that her 100th birthday was a very special occasion and was very pleased that so many family members and friends showed up to help her celebrate the very special occasion, he said.
“She really appreciated everybody showing up to say hello,” he said.
His mother’s health and attitude towards life has improved dramatically since moving into Mariposa, where she receives 24-hour nursing care, he said.
“She’s back to being cantankerous and that’s a very good sign because she’s back to her old ways,” he said smiling. “She wasn’t doing so well at home the last few months and it took a lot of effort to get her to leave, but she’s adapted very well to being at Mariposa Gardens and we could never get her out of there if we tried.
“She’s eating well again and has regained a lot of her strength and she’s doing remarkably well for a woman who just turned 100 years old. She looked wonderful today.”
Family members came from across the entire Okanagan Valley, as far away as Salmon Arm, to celebrate his mother’s birthday, he said.
He’s hopeful his mother will be around for many years to come.
“Now that she’s back in good health and eating well, there’s no reason she won’t be around for a while yet,” he said. “We’re really happy she was able to make it to 100 and we sure hope there’s a few years left.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
