By LEONARD GRAY

DESTREHAN – Destrehan resident Ernestine Mongrue does not get around as much as she once did, since a bad fall five years ago. For 102, though, she is still pretty active and her smile is quick.

Born Ernestine Roux on Aug. 4, 1900, she was the fifth of six children of Louis and Grazier Roux of Ama, and born on the same day as the late Queen Mother of Great Britain.

She enjoyed a crowded birthday party Friday at Ormond Nursing Center, surrounded by her children and friends, and ate from her slice of birthday cake with gusto.

Her memories encompass the 20th Century. The year she was born, a hurricane struck Galveston, Texas, and killed nearly 6,000 people. Also, “The Wizard of Oz” was published.

Other events that year included the invention of the photocopier, the hamburger and psychoanalysis. It was also the same year as the first auto show, the first Davis Cup tennis tournament, the introduction of Eastman Kodak’s Brownie camera and the outbreak of the Boxer Rebellion in China.

Most of those things, however, meant little to the child growing up in Ama. As she grew, her father would bring her and her sister to dances in his horse and buggy. Her father, a butcher, made sure the family had meat at every meal.

Disregarding popular convention, she also enjoys two fried eggs every morning for breakfast.

She married William Mongrue on Jan. 20, 1921 “because he had curly, curly hair,” and they moved to Luling and raised four children – Sophie Braud, 78; William Jr., 76; Kearney, 73; and Leo, 70.

All were in attendance at Friday’s party.

However, she does not appear to regard extreme old age as being very remarkable. Her mother died at 86 and her father at 75. A sister and a brother were each 93 when they died, and her husband died on March 4, 1981, at the age of 85.

Her secret of a long life? “Staying at home and taking care of the children,” she said.

She used to enjoy driving – a Ford Model T with three foot-pedals for forward, reverse and brake. However, newer models took her out of the driver’s seat in the early 1930s, and she stayed content being at home with her children.

To this day, “Whenever she feels like walking, she walks,” according to her daughter, Sophie Braud.

Her husband worked at the Pan American Refinery, behind Destrehan Plantation, going to work from Luling in a rowboat across the Mississippi River.

She continued to enjoy life, playing bingo until she was 96, and enjoyed cooking and gardening. A fall in 1997 required hip surgery, though, and she entered Ormond Nursing Center in August 2000.

Now, her time is spent visiting other patients and reminiscing about her girlhood. She did not sound terribly thrilled with the birthday party idea – “I didn’t want them to go to all that trouble” – but all three candles were out with one puff and a beaming smile.