105-year-old mother of 6 from Bua laid to rest

105-year-old Mereselina Wati who would often emphasise to her children that the food they ate is always their medicine, was laid to rest in Bua by her 75-year-old son and extended family members.

75-year-old Sowani Vunibola told fijivillage news that his mother was an inspiration to her children, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in Natokalau in Bua and will surely be missed.

Vunibola says his mother lived an active life and ate a lot of green vegetables, loved to tell stories and recite poetry while they were growing up. He says at the age of 105, his late mother's senses were all good and she did not have any issues with her sight or hearing. Vunibola attributed his mother’s long life to her lifestyle.

He says there are too many good memories and stories his mother would share and one poem she would often stress to youths in the village was the over-consumption of grog.

Vunibola says she was always in a cheerful mood and she did not let the stress and worries of this world trouble her.

He says having a mother who lives for more than one hundred years, let alone reach a hundred is a blessing from God, and he prays that he will follow in his late mother's footsteps and reach that age if God is willing. She shares maternal links to Nukubalavu in Savusavu and has 6 children.

The late Mereselina Wati was laid to rest in her village, as per her request.