Rose Angelina Medeiros nicknamed herself “Antique Rose” decades ago.

She officially grew into the name when she celebrated her 100th birthday this week.

“She has been our Antique Rose for at least 20 years,” said her granddaughter, Rachael Burrows. “When she turned 90, she told my cousin Andrew, ‘I will be 100 in ten years!’ She was right.”

Mrs Medeiros was born on December 7, 1915. She celebrated her milestone on Sunday with family — her two children, Christine Pratt and Raymond Medeiros, their spouses Jimmy Pratt and Helen Medeiros, six grandchildren, and 13 of her 17 great-grandchildren.

“We celebrated with as much pomp and circumstance as we could muster,” laughed Ms Burrows.

Mrs Medeiros was also visited by Michael Dunkley, the Premier, and Jeanne Atherden, the Minister of Health, Seniors and the Environment. She was delighted to receive a birthday card from Queen Elizabeth.

She met the Queen years ago, when she visited King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where Mrs Medeiros volunteered as a pink lady.

Ms Burrows said her grandmother was wonderful and had taught her baking, cooking and crochet.

“We always went to her house for Sunday dinner,” Ms Burrows said. “I remember her playing basketball with us as teenagers and jumping rope. She was over 70 then!

“She also used to play the piano. She made all of her grandchildren and most of her great-grands special blankets.”

Mrs Medeiros now has arthritis in her fingers and cannot crochet.

“She never fusses over anything,” said Ms Burrows. “She never complains. She was always there for me even through the roughest times of my life; she always stood steadfast in her love. She really is amazing.”

Mrs Medeiros was born in Boss’s Cove, Spanish Point, one of nine children of Joseph and Anna Soares. She had three brothers and five sisters. Four of her sisters are still alive and in their 90s.

Her father, who arrived in Bermuda as a young child from Santa Maria, Azores, farmed most of what is now Shaw Park, Pembroke. At harvest time, Mrs Medeiros and her siblings had to leave school to help.

She worked for the old Medical Hall on Reid Street for 39 years, and is today the oldest living retiree.

She married Seraphim Clement Medeiros on November 26, 1942. Mr Medeiros came to Bermuda 14 years before that, from the Azores.

She lived in Devonshire for most of her married life, but when her husband died in 1987, she moved back to Spanish Point.

“I’ve been so blessed to have lived so long,” said Mrs Medeiros. “I’m just waiting for my number to be called but the good Lord is not ready for me yet!”