What's the secret to a long-life? The answer: accept what happens and just go with it. That is Joan Rothwell's advice and considering she turned 100-years-old on Jan. 19, it might make her an authority of the issue.
What's the secret to a long-life? The answer: accept what happens and just go with it.
That is Joan Rothwell's advice and considering she turned 100-years-old on Jan. 19, it might make her an authority of the issue.
Born in England, Rothwell moved to Canada with her family when she was only two-years-old. Growing up in Manitoba with her mother and father, Rothwell met her husband, Andy, who played in a band, when she was only 17.
“Most parents usually don't like if their child dates a band member but my parents always liked Andy, ” Rothwell said with a smile.
One of Rothwell's fondest memories was the dating stage between herself and her husband, when the teenager was allowed to go to the dinner dances at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina.
“The men would dress up and the girls wore evening gowns. One time I made myself a red gown - the dances were really something, they were lovely and I always looked forward to it, ” Rothwell said.
The couple got married after a decade of dating, when Rothwell was 27.
Rothwell and her husband settled down in Saskatchewan and had three daughters. Over the years Rothwell was pre-deceased by her husband and two of her daughters.
Rothwell said she is lucky to have gone through her life with no regrets.
“Take good care of your health and the years will just come and go, ” Rothwell said. “It is unusual for someone to reach my age with a few smarts to them yet.
“Time flies. I thought as you get older time would just drag on but that is not true, time goes faster. ”
Rothwell credits her good health and quick wits to reading the newspaper every morning and enjoying the occasional glass of wine.
“I am an old wino - I love a glass of wine, ” Rothwell said with a laugh.
The last item on Rothwell's bucket list, to visit the East Coast “one more time ” and when asked what advice she wanted to give the next generation, Rothwell said, “just eat well, sleep well and take care of yourself. The rest will happen whether you like it or not. ”
She celebrated her birthday surrounded by friends and family on Jan. 21.
