On December 13th, 2021, Belize City's oldest resident celebrated her 108th birthday. But, sadly, that would be the last birthday she celebrated. Leonora Patnett's birthday has been observed by the entire country since 2013, when she first hit the triple digits. Media houses would pile into her tiny home on Wagner's Lane - which she has lived in for decades, even through Hurricane Hattie - and she would give advice on how to live as long as she had. And last year, she even got a visit from the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Belize City.
But tonight, celebration has turned to mourning as Ms Leonora's family grieves for the matriarch who was still so full of life, even at 108. Today, her grandson told us that she passed peacefully, just before midday - but that they had seen the signs way in advance.
Tomorrow we'll show you Ms Leonora's past eight birthdays and the wisdom she has imparted over the years.
