Pope’s blessing and Mass for 100th

29 June 2018

29 Jun 2018

Hendrika Driessen was surrounded by family and friends at a special mass to mark her 100^th birthday in June at VMCH’s Shanagolden Residential Aged Care.

Bishop of Sale, Patrick O’Regan (pictured with Hendrika), Father Bernard Buckley and Father John Readman led the mass and about 80 people came along.

Hendrika has been part of the Shanagolden community for about six years and was thrilled to receive a special blessing from Pope Francis to mark her 100 year milestone.

Her son, Bert, wrote a short biography about his mother that includes highlights including migrating to Australia from Holland in 1954 with her husband and six children. They had a seventh in Australia and eventually settled in Berwick. Sadly her husband passed away in 1974 when two of their children were still young and living at home.

Bert wrote that this was a difficult time for his mum, but he credited her strong faith for helping her bounce back after many of life’s challenges.

“It is difficult to do justice to her life, but if you talk to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren you will appreciate the person she is and the contribution she and dad have made since their arrival in Australia,” he wrote.

“Each one of them is stubborn, resilient, loyal, loving, family-orientated, driven, generous, and hard working.”

More news articles in Residential Aged Care

View all

VMCH volunteer honoured

The power of music in palliative care

Honouring Women Who Inspire

Aged care centenarian celebrates birthday and country

Specialised dementia care changing lives

A safe haven for men’s health

Time for innovation in Palliative Care

Carol celebrates almost a half century of volunteering

Pastoral care at end-of-life a vital support

A little lost? Start here.

Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide. Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.

Not sure where to start?

→

Who needs our services?

I am here for
someone else I am here
for myself I am
looking for a job

Acknowledgement of Country

We here at VMCH respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we gather, and we would like to take a moment to honour the fact that we live on the lands of the oldest civilisation in the world. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.