Congenial Dorothy Esdaille turns 90 in style

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There is one person in St George’s, if not the rest of Bermuda, who seems always to take life with a smile. She’s Dorothy Esdaille, a spiritually and physically upright lady whose strategically situated home is at Cut Road with its panoramic closeness to St George’s Harbour.

Her daughter, Constance *(Connie) Francis said her mother has been on a real high this past week following what family and friends are calling a fantastic party celebrating her 90th birthday last Saturday night.

More than 200 guests took over the beautifully decorated Penno’s Wharf Receiving Hall to sing and toast to her continued good health, and to be feasted with all they could eat and drink.

Connie, an administrative assistant at East End Primary School, and her sister Margaret Cannonier, an executive at the Bank of Butterfield, got the celebration rolling.

Mrs. Esdaille’s maiden name was Bartram. She's the widow of the late Charles Esdaille who passed in 1967. And two of her other children, sons Alfred and John are also deceased. For many years she clerked at Tolaram’s Jewellery Store in the town. She has eleven grandchildren, who seem to be achievers like Dorothy, including Connie's daughters, Quinita, who is Business Manager at the Bermuda Housing Corporation, and Quinell who is a Professional Survey Engineer. Their brother Quinton, is in the security field. Margaret's daughters are Michelle Armstrong, who has a Master's Degree in Busines and Latia, a cosmetologist.

Grandson Alfred Esdaille, an assistant supervisor at the Bermuda Land Development Corporation in St. Davids, had the big job of toasting on behalf of the family. He he did so with wit and good humour, aided and abetted by the interpretations of the grandmother herself, and other family members.

The Divisional Commanders of the Salvation Army in Bermuda, Major and Mrs. Critch were in attendance. Sharing the head table with Mrs Esdaille were her own local officers, Major and Mrs Broome. Also at the head table were sister-in-law Emmaline Cartwright; cousins Jeanette Burgess and husband Norris; and Mrs Maxine Esdaille.

The four MPs for St. George’s were also in attendance, each testifying to Mrs Esdaille's geniality. Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith, related how she was one of the generations of youngsters in whom Mrs Esdaille took an interest in as a Sunday School teacher and as a young adult. She revealed this is her own late mother’s 100th birthday-year; and spoke of how she and Mrs Esdaille together regularly attended Salvation Army Home League meetings.

MP Lovitta Foggo spoke of Mrs Esdaille as the personification of warmth and friendship. And United Bermuda Party MP Kim Swan, spoke the remarkable physical resemblance she had to his own grandmother, and how embracing she was to him, even though he did not grow up in the town.

St George’s Town Mayor Kenny Bascome made a fleeting courtesy call at the party, congratulating Mrs. Esdaille and wishing her well.

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