Jan. 27, 2009 — Eliza Johanna Kean, who brought many St. Thomians' parents and grandparents into the world, turned 105 Tuesday.
Born Jan. 27, 1904, on St. Thomas, Eliza was the eighth of 12 children born to Orville Sidney Kean and Robertina Kean. She has survived all of her brothers and sisters.
Her parents were both born in the century before, her father in 1871. He was a Virgin Islander and worked in a bank. Her mother was born in 1868 and relatives believe she was born in Santo Domingo.
They prompted their children to learn and get an education and advance themselves, Josephine Kean said. Kean is married to one of Eliza's many great-nephews.
"Lizzie," as she is known to her friends and family, worked as a midwife. In the days before automobiles became common, she would sometimes ride donkeys to reach mothers in labor.
"In those days there was no Mafolie Road, just donkey trails," said her great-nephew, Jon Euwema.
Eliza delivered all 17 of one of the Berry families' children.
"We don't really know how many Virgin Islanders she delivered," Josephine said. "She just said 'many.' There weren't that many midwives in those days."
Eliza told her family she remembers the time and date when the United States bought the Virgin Islands. They were all at Emancipation Garden, she said. Eliza said she was ambiguous about the islands' purchase by the United States.
After beginning her schooling in the territory, Eliza went to the mainland to further her education. Beginning in the 1930s, Eliza lived in New York City on Morningside Drive in Harlem. For a time she lived with one of her sisters. Two of their brothers, Ivan and Henry, joined their sisters there.
Eliza worked as a surgical nurse in New York's Presbyterian Hospital and regularly received praise from patients and colleagues for her professionalism and caring.
"She used to tell us that she was admired by her colleagues because she knew how to heal wounds," Josephine said.
Eliza stayed in New York until she retired in the 1970s, returning to St. Thomas. She has never married.
"Her life was her mother and father and sisters and brothers," Josephine said. "Her parents had great care and love for their children, and regarded them with great admiration."
Eliza's hobbies have included working puzzles such as Rubik's Cubes and tatting — making lace. Her sisters were also talented at fancy sewing work.
"She tried to teach me, but I never learned," Josephine said.
Eliza also remained fit and limber with regular exercise, including calisthenics, Josephine said. She played the clarinet and used to practice after she came back to the island, Josephine recalled.
Eliza still lives at the Garden Street home where she was born and is assisted by two devoted nurses, Verna Henderson and Doris Lloyd. On Sundays the family gathers at the house and Lizzie joins them for a meal and participates in the conversation.
"She has a sense of humor," Josephine said.
On Tuesday, a small gathering of family members planned to go to her home on Garden Street for cake and ice cream and to toast her 105th birthday.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
