Ladysmith resident Bernice McFee celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday, April 26.
“I don’t feel any different being 100, I’m just carrying on as usual,” McFee said.
She said she’s happy to be 100, but the one thing she misses this year is her usual trip to the Keg with her family for her birthday filet mignon.
McFee has lived in Ladysmith a LaRosa Gardens since December 2015. Prior to living in Ladysmith, McFee lived at her own home in Chemainus.
In her 100 years, McFee has had quite the life. She enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 at the age of 22, and served in research and development at Rockliffe Air Force Base in Ottawa. She left the Air Force in 1945.
After leaving the Air Force, McFee stayed at home to raise he family. They lived in Ottawa until 1958, when they moved to the West Island of Montreal. During the FLQ crisis of 1976, the family decided to McFee and her husband moved back to Ottawa. Her husband passed away in 1986. With the rest of the family having moved to Western Canada, McFee decided to join them, and moved to Calgary. She stayed in Calgary for a number of years, then moved to Red Deer to be near her eldest daughter, Bonnie, who she lost to cancer in 2003.
In 2007, McFee uprooted herself again. At 88 years old, McFee packed all her belongings – by her self – sold her home, and moved to Chemainus to be near her two children and their families. Her family has enjoyed having her so close by, and looks forward to celebrating her 101st birthday next year.
“My mom has a great sense of humour, and we’ve had a lot of good times and good laughs over the years,” McFee’s daughter, Darlene Newton said.