By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Residents and staff of Twin Oaks Nursing Home and Maison Oaks Assisted Living Center gathered Friday afternoon to pay tribute to residents who have made it past their 90th year.

Seven residents of the homes were honored by their family and friends Friday as part of Twin Oaks’ annual This is Your Life ceremony.

“We are here to celebrate the long and happy life you all have been blessed with,” said Twin Oaks Staff Director Theresa Brooks. “You all have so much wisdom and so much to teach us about life and about living healthy, happy and blessed.”

Brooks said the home started the tradition about nine years ago when it had a large number of residents who had reached 90 years old or above.

“It has grown into a party that family members look forward to,” Brooks said. “People say to me ‘mama is up next year’ or ‘daddy gets there next year.’ This tells me that these families truly care about what we do here. I love that.”

The oldest resident honored Friday was Mr. Junius Duhe, who will reach 96 on Oct. 8. A large circle of close family surrounded Duhe and offered several stories about his life as a farmer, shrimper and sugar refinery worker.

“There are three things that have helped me through this long life,” Junius said. “Good healthy living, hard work and a good woman.”

Linda Acosta, Junius’ great niece, said that “good woman” was Marie Junius. She said the couple had been married 66 years before Marie passed away in 2000.

“It was a tight bond they had,” Acosta said. “They rarely spent a day apart.”

Others honored Friday were Mayl Hinson, 91, Velma Jasmine, 92, Verna E. Laborde, 93, Mildred B. “Millie” Lemoine, 90, Martha Rodrigue, 90 and Ruby Clement, 90.