Flowers in full bloom- Ethel Flowers celebrated her 100th birthday at Casey Manor last week. 70661Pictures: Meagan Rogers

By Lia Bichel
ETHEL Flowers credits her longevity to the staff at her Narre Warren retirement village- that and a lot of salt.
She celebrated her 100th birthday at Casey Manor with the staff, fellow residents and her family on 23 September.
She’s the third person in her family and the first resident in Casey Manor to celebrate 100 years of life.
Samantha Kovacs, who is Mrs Flowers’ granddaughter and the receptionist at Casey Manor, said Ethel and the other residents loved the friendly environment of the small family-owned facility.
“It’s a fantastic staff and Ethel loves it there. She thanked the girls for all their work and said that’s why she was 100,” Samantha said.
“She also tells us it’s from a lot of hard work and she always had a lot of salt.”
Samantha said her grandmother is a quiet and patient woman who lives for her family.
Ethel was the fourth born out of 14 children and helped care for her siblings after her mother died.
At a young age, Ethel married Alex Earl and had one daughter, Pauline.
After Mr Earl died, she married long-time friend Frank Flowers at the age of 76.
Mr Flowers died eight years ago and she moved into Casey Manor seven years ago.
Samantha said she enjoyed working at the her grandmother’s retirement village and has learned a lot of life lessons from her.
“She has taught me understanding, patience,” Samantha said.
“And also the importance of spending quality time with family.”
Mrs Flowers enjoys spending time with Samantha and her husband Tibi, three great-grandchildren Simone and her fiance James, Daniel and his fiancée Alysha and Mason and her great, great grandchildren Kayden, Zayde and Savanah.