Mrs Merson shares her ‘many lives’ at 101
Happy birthday to Resthaven Elizabeth North Retirement Living resident, Mrs Gloria Merson, who celebrates turning 101 on 29 July.
Having lived ‘many lives’ in her time, Mrs Merson says, ‘I started life on a simple cattle farm in New South Wales with my nine younger siblings. My father ran a successful cheese factory using the milk from our cows.’
‘We were just outside of the city, so I went to school there.’
At the age of 10, Mrs Merson and her family relocated to a cattle farm in Berri, South Australia.
‘We had 100 cows in Berri so, as the oldest, I left school around grade four to work full-time on the property.’
At the age of 17, Mrs Merson met her first husband, Eric.
‘My long-term friend, Joyce, was dating a miner at the time, and introduced me to his colleague, Eric, who she thought I would get along with. Well, she was spot on, and we married and had five children together.’
The newlyweds resided in Cooma, New South Wales, before relocating to the Flinders’ Ranges in South Australia, to live with Eric’s parents, while their Whyalla home was being built.
‘We stayed in Whyalla for 20 years, before relocating to Echunga, Murray Bridge, and finally, settling in Mannum.’
‘We kept farms during our time together, and after six years in our Mannum home, Eric passed away from cancer.’
Missing her home in Murray Bridge, Mrs Merson soon bought a house there, with the encouragement of her daughter who also resided in the area.
‘I found employment in processing chickens on a nearby farm, and I was thankful to have my family around while I navigated my new life without Eric.’
In her late 50s, or, as Mrs Merson calls it, her ‘second life’, she remarried.
‘I never expected I would marry again, but then I met my dear John—he was a painter, and a lovely, adventurous man. My home is filled with his paintings from over the years.’
In their 60s, Mr and Mrs Merson retired and purchased a caravan.
‘We travelled across Australia together for many years, before purchasing our transportable home in Murray Bridge.’
After 25 years of marriage, Mrs Merson’s life turned upside down once more.
‘It turned out to be my curse that John would pass of cancer just as Eric did. You can’t dwell on these things for too long, and we had shared a wonderful life together.’
At the age of 91, Mrs Merson moved into her current home at Resthaven Elizabeth North Retirement Living, where she has made many friends over the years.
‘It’s a wonderful community here, and we all look out for each other.’
As Mrs Merson reaches her 101st milestone, she shares, ‘Throughout everything I endured in my many lives, I never let life get me down. I am always laughing, and I seek out the humour in everything that comes my way!’
‘It’s the only way to be.’
Many happy returns, Mrs Merson!