At Greenpoint Crescent in St Philip, Verene Auguste celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday, receiving well wishes from family, friends, and a special visitor – President The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic.
Born and raised in the Oistins, Christ Church community, Auguste’s life story is one of resilience, dedication and unwavering love.
She attended Christ Church Girls’ School on Water Street before embarking on a distinguished career at the Barbados Hilton, where she joined as one of the hotel’s first employees when it opened. Starting in housekeeping, her commitment and work ethic saw her rise to supervisor of housekeeping by the time she retired.
It was at the Hilton where she met Joseph Auguste, a fellow employee who would become her husband in 1981. The couple moved to Bayland, St Michael, where they built their life together until Joseph’s passing, after which Verene returned to her beloved Oistins.
Auguste raised eight children, though tragedy touched her family with the loss of two in infancy and another son, Michael, who passed away just a few years ago at age 75. Today, she is matriarch to four boys and one girl, 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grands.
Cherished memories
Granddaughter Danielle, who cheekily refers to herself as “the favourite grandchild”, shared cherished memories of growing up under Auguste’s care.
“She would have raised [me] and one of my cousins,” Danielle recalled, describing Sunday traditions of church followed by trips to the beach, where Auguste’s fisherman brother would bring in fresh potfish.
“She would boil the shellfish and at the end of the night we would just be there breaking it, tipping it with a little salt,” she added.
“She’s very down-toearth. She’s no-nonsense,” Danielle said, describing traits inherited from her grandmother, along with secret recipes for cou cou and sweet bread – dishes Auguste still loves today.
Though now using a wheelchair, the centenarian remains witty and refreshingly chatty, enjoying her days listening to hymns on YouTube and sharing conversations with her caregivers.
During President Bostic’s visit, the pair, both dressed in pink, engaged warm conversation and toasted her longevity. (DDS)
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