Ena Mackenzie-Smith, a Doodlebug survivor, marks her 100th birthday surrounded by family, celebrating a life full of resilience and love.
Borehamwood: Ena Mackenzie-Smith just hit the big 1-0-0! This amazing lady, who survived a flying bomb during World War II, celebrated her milestone birthday with her family.
She’s the proud matriarch of five generations, with her youngest family member being just four years old. How cool is that?
Ena raised seven kids, including her adopted daughter Jenny, all on her own. On December 28, her home was filled with love as family gathered to celebrate, and those who couldn’t make it joined via video calls.
Her son Andrew shared that there were plenty of family members visiting, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ena was in great spirits, which is just heartwarming to hear.
They decorated the garden with balloons and hung garlands in the windows. Sounds like a lovely day, right?
Ena was born in East Dereham, Norfolk, in 1924, weighing only three-and-a-half pounds. She was so tiny that she slept in a chest of drawers! Can you imagine?
As a young woman, she moved to Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, and worked with the Land Army during the war. One day, she narrowly escaped death when a V1 Doodlebug exploded nearby. Talk about a close call!
After the war, she settled in Ramsgate, Kent, and got married. But life threw her some curveballs, and by the late 1960s, she was raising five kids on her own in Borehamwood.
She faced more heartache when her son Scott passed away at just 39, which was devastating for her. But through it all, Ena has shown incredible strength.
Recently, she battled pneumonia a couple of times, but her family is hopeful she’ll bounce back soon. Andrew mentioned that despite her frailty, she has a strong spirit that keeps her going.
Ena believes in moderation in life, and it seems like that philosophy has served her well. Here’s to many more years of love and family for this remarkable woman!
