Valerie Lee celebrates 101st birthday

FERGUS – Family travelled from near and far to celebrate Valerie Lee on her 101st birthday.

Her grandsons and great-grandchildren live in Ireland and England, and flew in for Lee’s birthday, both this year and last.

Her great-grandchildren said they hope to come back to celebrate her turning 102 next year.

Lee’s birthday was June 17, and her family threw a big party in her daughter Candy’s house the next day.

She was surrounded by smiles and laughter as her family reminisced and reconnected during the party.

There was lots of food and drinks to be shared, especially Guyanese treats and drinks like Lee’s favourite (non-alcoholic) “special apple juice.”

Lee also enjoyed eating some sweet chocolates during the party.

She immigrated to Canada from Guyana with her husband, Aubrey Neville Lee, in about 1983, to be closer to her daughter Candy Lee, who moved to Canada a decade prior.

The couple initially settled in Toronto, living with Aubrey’s sisters. Aubrey passed away in 2015.

Valerie and Aubrey also had a son, Robin Lee, who lived in England but passed away in the Bahamas in 1994.

Lee moved to Fergus to live with her daughter, Candy, and Candy’s partner Mary about 12 years ago.

She then moved to the Wellington Terrace about five years ago.

During the party when one of Lee’s relatives asked her how old she is, she laughed and said, “Oh, we don’t talk about ages,” though her great children had proudly hung balloons reading “Happy 101 Birthday” on Candy and Mary’s garage doors.

Lee’s great-granddaughter Sophie Lee held her hand gently during most of the party, hardly leaving the matriarch’s side.

Lee says she doesn’t have any secrets to share regarding the key to a long life.

But judging from stories told during her 101st birthday party, it seems clear she has always been surrounded by a loving family, so perhaps that’s a piece of the puzzle.