Martina Fournillier has lived for 36,500 days – a century spent capturing memories, giving and receiving love, and sharing laughter and wisdom with friends, family and the wider community.
Celebrating her birthday on Wednesday with her relatives in Paramin, Ms Fournillier expressed profound gratitude for having lived to witness a lifetime of joy.
“I feeling happy in Jesus. Jesus gave me the hundred, and Jesus helping me.”
Asked about the secret to attaining 100 years, she smiled and credited her longevity to her faith in Jesus Christ and a life dedicated to prayer.
“I love Jesus. I love Jesus, so my secret will have to be Jesus.”
Recounting her mother’s many health battles, Zilla Mark said she had overcome several serious illnesses and injuries, including a broken leg, shingles and kidney stones.
Despite these setbacks, Ms Fournillier made recoveries, demonstrating the resilience and strength that continue to define her.
“She passed through a lot. She had shingles. She got over all that. This last three years ago, she was very, very sick and we thought we were going to lose her because she was very, very, very sick. The doctors and all give up on her. The doctors said that she has something in her colon; they’re not sure if it is cancer. They want her going to do a surgery. I say, ‘No, not on my mother. She is 97 years, and that is 50-50.'”
Another daughter, 80-year-old Amy Marcano, also reflected on the close-knit bond they share.
“She always, you know, have confidence in me. Every little thing she would tell me. She wouldn’t tell the others, but she would tell me, you know. And if she’s sick, I would lay down next to her. If she don’t eat, I don’t eat. She crying, I cry too, you know. So this is the kind of heart I have.”
Her great-granddaughter, Shedina Boisselle, said her great-grandmother continues to be the epitome of love and grace.
“She always said, ‘Sheedina, I will give you all until a hundred and then that’s it’. I really hope that that’s not the case, and we have some more years with her, but I’m happy to have had her for this long.”
Surrounded by family and loved ones on Wednesday, Ms Fournillier commemorated the milestone in high spirits, grateful for the past and ready for the next chapter.