Leonora Patnett turns 107-years-old!

Leonora Patnett continues to defy the odds as she reaches another milestone birthday this weekend. Over the years, we’ve shared Patnett’s wisdom and memories of life dating back more than a hundred years old – and this year as she gets ready to welcome one hundred and seven years of life, she is doing so with the same vigor and optimism. Today, we stopped in at Patnett’s residence on Wagner’s Lane in Belize City for a chat with the sprightly centenarian who tells us that she can read without the use of eyeglasses. Here’s the story:

Leonora Patnett, Centenarian

“One hundred and seven.”

Andrea Polanco

“What – you live so long Ms. Leonora..?”

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

Leonora Patnett turns one hundred and seven years old on Sunday. It’s a milestone that she didn’t expect to reach – after all, there are only a handful of people in Belize who can call themselves a centenarian:

Andrea Polanco

“You mi think you wah live fi si wah 107?”

Leonora Patnett

Leonora Patnett

“No, I neva think that!”

Andrea Polanco

“Why?”

Leonora Patnett

“You know most people nuh live too long.”

These days she can still move around – with little to no ailments. One of her proudest accomplishments at this ripe old age is that she can take her own baths. She spends her days mostly reading and watching TV. Yes – at one hundred and seven years old Leonora Patnett can see and still read without the use of eyeglasses.

Leonora Patnett

“I get up and come out a hall and sit down and first thing in the morning I say my prayers and pray to God to help me that I feel good.”

Andrea Polanco

“And when you come out ah hall weh yuh do?”

Leonora Patnett

“Sit down and watch mi TV.”

Andrea Polanco

“Which show pahn TV yuh like watch?”

Leonora Patnett

“I like watch Trump [laughs].”

Andrea Polanco

“Yuh move round and suh on your own?”

Leonora Patnett

“Yes because when I get up going in the morning, I go to the bathroom and bathe myself and everything.  I thank God that I nuh feel no way and so.”

Andrea Polanco

“And yuh still the si really well?”

Leonora Patnett

“Aha – I nuh have no eye glass fu say that I can’t see without it. I nuh use eyeglasses. I mostly like to read and dah nuh the small writing but mostly big letters.”

Andrea Polanco

“Suh yuh still the read and everything?”

Leonora Patnett

“Yes, I read.”

And Leonora Patnett credits her strong faith in God and staying away from smoking and drinking to be the reasons why she is still alive beyond a hundred and five:

Leonora Patnett

“The Lord give me that strength…”

Andrea Polanco

“..fuh live suh long?”

Leonora Patnett

“Yes!”

Andrea Polanco

“Yuh say God help yuh – what else yuh think help yuh? Yuh have to share some ah deh secret mek people know, man?”

Leonora Patnett

“Heheheh – well, the thing is from I young I nuh smoke and I nuh drink. I go to church.”

The southside Belize City resident says there will be no birthday celebration this year – but she will have cake on Sunday and spend the day with her daughter and her great-grand kids!

Andrea Polanco reporting for News Five.