Marie Lodge is 90 Not Out!,That’s how some of her many admirers, speaking in Cup Match terminology, describe this unwrinkled, unflappable, short-in-stature but big-hearted lady.Mrs Lodge is one of Bermuda’s special Moms. Her children, and grands down through the years seemed prepared ‘to go to the ends’ to honour her and show their love in extraordinary ways.They know the struggles and sacrifices she made for them, keeping her family together at all costs after her husband Irvin Bean died, leaving her with ten young children, five boys and five girls, including a set of twins. He passed away on his job at the US Base at King’s Point on the first birthday of his youngest child.Down through the years, six of Mrs Lodge’s children died, including the eldest, well-known budding singer and recording artist Violeta Carmichael, in the prime of her life.Renalda Bean was the moving spirit behind the pre-birthday celebratons. He was eight years old when his father died. His father had taught him to make kites, and Renalda is now Bermuda’s Kite King.Not long after the death of their father, the family lost their home on Billy Goat Hill in Warwick. They moved to the New York Hotel in Court Street, Hamilton, some of the siblings stayed with their grandmother and the rest with other relatives.It was heartbreaking for Marie seeing her family splintered, and she did not rest until they secured a small house on Spring Hill in Warwick. It had a small kitchen and two other rooms, which were the bedrooms. There was an outdoor toilet. Some people referred to it as ‘the poor house’. But it was their home, and a remarkably happy one.A God-fearing woman whose moto is “Trust in the Lord”, Mrs Bean grew up in the AME Church and Salvation Army, where she was a girl Guide. She learned how to play the guitar guitar, and neigbourhood children, including businessman Nelson Hunt, flocked there for ‘growing up fun.Nelson was one of the several persons who took to the stage to pay tribute to Mrs Bean. He felt she truly epitomised the African proverb about a village raising a child. Other speakers included former Cabinet Minister Dale Butler.Renalda told how he and his brothers left school as youngsters to go to work and support the family. He remembered his mother working working tirelessly in the home, cooking, tidying up, then going out to the two day jobs she had and her night job as a short-order cook at the Brass Rail Restaurant in Hamilton. She strugggled, uncomplaining, to keep them together. Sundays were probably the hardest days, as she ensured the children went to church and Sunday School, attending two and sometimes three the same day in the neighbourhood. She was so busy getting them out, looking good, that she was unable to get to church herself.After 20 years as a widow, Mrs. Bean remarried, this time to Harry Lodge. Sadly, when they were about to celebrate their 25th anniversary, he died suddenly.Meanwhile, Renalda, a successful taxi owner and operator spent seven years building a house for his family on Dunscombe Road. He ensured it had a self-contained modern apartment for his mother, which he said she deserved. And that’s where she resides, when she’s not visiting family and friends abroad.When her 90th birthday was rolling around, the family decided she should have not just one big party on the natal day. But rather there should be a celebration of her 90th Year. So, obviously there’s more to come.The first invitation was to a wide circle of family and friends to atttend the Morning Worship Service last Sunday at Bright Temple AME Church, Warwick. Following the service an adult-only ‘pre-birthday celebation’ was set at the auditorium of Warwick Workmen’s Club.Some 300-plus friends showed up to discover the tastefully decorated auditorium had been affected by the big Belco power ‘shedding’ that blacked out that part of Warwick for nearly three hours. However, the blackout served to give more intimacy to the warm fellowship and had no effect on serving of the delicious, hot fish chowder, cassava pie, chicken, baked fish,’ macaro’ and variety of desserts that had been prepared and brought to the club by the caterers.Mrs Lodge has 19 grandchildren, 23 great-grands and one great-great grand. Three of the youngest grands entertained the guests with a skit they produced terming their grandmother, “The Rainbow of the Family.” Mrs Lodge was born in the Flatts Villiage area. She traces her Tuzo roots to a North American Red Indian who arrived in Bermuda in the late 1700s.