Magdalene Vuadreu embodies elegance and grace at the age of 96. She reflects on her life with a joyful heart, cherishing the moments spent with her extended family, regardless of life’s challenges.
Her fondest memories are from her younger years spent in the highlands of Nadarivatu with her husband and children. With a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face, Vuadreu recently reminisced about both the joys and struggles she has experienced throughout her life.
“I was about six years old when my sister and I were placed in the Saint Joan of Arc convent in Sigatoka, where we lived until we were 14,” she shared. She spoke of her unknown father and how her mother had entrusted her and her sister to their grandfather, who ultimately brought them to the convent, a place she remembers fondly.
Despite living with memory impairment, Vuadreu is a delightful conversationalist. She is proud of her mixed Irish and Maori heritage and expressed her admiration for her grandfather, Loqorio Kunalevu, who faced imprisonment due to his love for a Maori woman.
“My grandmother was from New Zealand. After giving birth to my mother in New Zealand, she returned to Fiji because of her Fijian heritage,” Vuadreu explained. She recounted how her grandfather, while legally marrying a local woman, went to pick up his mother and child at the airport and sought refuge for them in a village.
Reflecting on her childhood, Vuadreu fondly remembered the hard work at the convent, where the children had to grow their own food. Sundays were special as she loved to dive for freshwater mussels in the river.
After her marriage, she began a new chapter in Nadarivatu, where she learned essential life skills, including shearing sheep, cleaning, spinning, and knitting warm clothes. “I learned many skills like knitting, sewing, baking, cooking, and gardening. I also gave birth to four of my children here,” she noted.
Throughout her social work, she found joy in sharing her knowledge and experience with other women. Vuadreu and her husband later bought a farm and worked the land until health issues forced them to relocate to Kalabu to be closer to their children.
The passing of her husband in 1997 left a significant void in her life. “I miss him greatly because we were together for a long time, but my grandchildren have helped me heal and ease the pain,” she said.
Although she often longs for her days on the farm, she has had to adapt to her new circumstances. “It wasn’t easy, but you must deal with what life gives you. I don’t enjoy lying in bed, but I have no choice. With this long life that God has gifted me, I also wish for good health and independence.”
Currently, Vuadreu is cared for by her daughters and is always surrounded by her loving grandchildren.
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