Freelance Correspondent
At 100 years old, Romaula Estrada is not just celebrating a milestone she is a living testament of faith, resilience, and the power of a prayerful life.
Her vision is sharp, she has an unwavering spirit, and a heart full of gratitude. This Sangre Grande matriarch, a mother of nine, credits her longevity to God’s love.
“At this age, I can do most of my chores. I have good vision, can read, walk, and everything I do, I make the sign of the cross,” Estrada said confidently.
Her secret to reaching this incredible age? Estrada attributes it to living a righteous and prayerful life, having unwavering faith in the Lord, maintaining a contented heart, and enjoying a well-balanced diet.
But above all, she believes it is her deep connection with God that has kept her strong.
She loves reading, and this is how she spends her day at home. Reading the newspapers–Guardian and Catholic News–is a must.
“I was reading the Guardian. As you see, it is on my lap as you walked in,” Estrada said. Every morning, her son makes a trip to the Sangre Grande town centre to buy her “favourite” newspaper.
Estrada also spends time reflecting on a life shaped by discipline and love–the same discipline and love she passed on to her children.
Born on February 7, 1925, to Paulina and Joseph Gabriel in Arima, Estrada attended the Arima Girls’ Catholic School. She took pride in her impeccable Jackson-style penmanship, known for its elegant, flowing cursive, and her strong command of the English language, which set her apart from her parents, who primarily spoke patois.
The centenarian recalled that, as a young woman, she enjoyed sewing, baking and dancing, and loved to dress.
At age 20, she married the love of her life, John Thomas Estrada, a school principal.
Estrada said she raised her children with “love and kindness and nurtured them to be disciplined, loving, and caring.”
The centenarian said confidently that she “never went to court for any of my five boys, and I never will.”
Today’s children “lack the love of their parents,” she said, and she believes this is responsible for most of their delinquent behaviour.
However, she believes Christ is the solution to all problems.
Her advice to mothers is that they must “go to church, pray with your children, and be role models for them.”
Beaming with joy, she spoke about her children, 18 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, all of whom she prays for daily.
Estrada firmly believes that children today are “too lazy, and everything they do is a problem.” She remembered walking four miles to Coryal RC Primary School as a pupil and then coming home to do chores, even after a full day of school. She also recalled walking from Arima to St Benedict in St Augustine, to attend church.
Sangre Grande has been her home for the past 46 years, and she enjoys it there. “I’ve been living here for 46 years, and I love it,” she said. When asked about stickfighting, as the semifinals of the competition was held in that town on Wednesday night, she smiled and replied, “I’m not blind, and If I happen to be in the place where stickfighting is taking place, of course, I will look.”