Esmond Allcock, from Kerrobert, Sask, celebrated his 108th birthday on Friday, and according to one of the oldest men in Canada, he says the secret to living 108 years was choosing the proper spouse
When asked how he managed to live a long and happy life, he said: “I didn’t behave myself for a few years there, but then I got a really good wife.”
His wife Helen passed away seven years ago after 72 years of marriage. He lived alone in the family home for a short time and then decided to move into the Kerrobert Health Centre.
On Friday, employees at the centre threw the 108-year-old a birthday party.
“Oh they nearly drove me nuts. They probably took 100 pictures of me,” he said laughing.
The town’s Mayor, Wayne Mock, also attended the party. He honoured the self-proclaimed Blue Jays baseball super-fan by declaring Jan. 26 as Esmond Allcock Day.
Although his son Dale Allcock, 78, couldn’t make it to the party from Port Coquitlam, B.C. however the two Facetimed beforehand.
Dale Allcock said: “He really is a gift. That’s about all we can call that. We Facetime every day on his iPad and you can really tell how happy he is, and they treat him like gold in there.”
Staff wrapped up the party with his favourite meal: steak, carrots and fruit.
According to his son, Allcock has lived in Kerrobert, which is located about 200 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon, for 100 years and worked as a farmer before retiring in 1975.
He has 67 living relatives which includes 38 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
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