Summerset Care Centre resident celebrates 105 years

Catherine Beaven, Graham Beaven and Lynne Beaven celebrate Con's 105th birthday. Photo / Bevan Conley

Dozens of friends, family, and fellow Summerset Care Centre residents crowded around to see the rare sight of Con Beaven cut the cake for her 105th birthday.

Daughter-in-law Lynne Beaven said it's Con's positivity that has allowed her to live to such a ripe age.

"Her motto is every day is an adventure, and that could be just a knock on the door from someone she's not expecting,

"Also she didn't eat junk food, didn't smoke, didn't drink… except at Christmas" she said.

Con, or Connie as she's sometimes known, was born on April 5, 1914 on the family farm near Fairlie in the South Island, and was one of 13 children.

The Depression caused the family to move up to Whanganui in 1928, where years later she would meet Jack, who she married in 1946.

A keen gardener in the day, Con also spent her time helping out at the YMCA and Trinity Church.

She's a very generous and caring person, her son Graham Beaven said.

"Although she never really moved around and stayed in the same house for more than 60 years, she does have a sense of adventure" he said.

That followed into her older years, where she completed the Milford Track in her 70s, and would then take another leap in travel years later.

"We took her down to the South Island and got her to fly in a plane, it was her first time and she would've been about 90," Graham Beaven said.

Summerset's Libin Varghese said it's a pleasure to look after Con since she joined the centre in December 2012.

"She's very popular and well respected among the other residents, and has a great sense of humour and is very caring for others," he said.

"People often talk about how fit she is for her age, she's still able to stand up. With a little bit of help of course."