Many can only dream of living to a century, but Yvonne McKenzie Rosewarne who just turned 100 has done it! 

The McKenzie family celebrated the milestone at a family home in Tanumapu’a on Sunday with family and the centenarian's children from overseas. She was born on April 1, 1919. 

What is the secret to longevity for Yvonne, “walking and eating good old Samoan food".

Yvonne was born in Faga Savaii and is the daughter of the late Iulia and Samuel Vernon McKenzie, a well-known businessman in Samoa. 

She lives with her nephew, Roderick McKenzie in Lotopa, their family place of business. To this day Yvonne walks on her own, with the assistance of a cane. 

A retired nurse, Yvonne attended school in Auckland, New Zealand. 

“Thank you Lord is what I have to say. I am blessed to reach the age of 100,” said Yvonne, while laughing. 

Yvonne's eldest daughter, Almira Oldehaver, said her mom still smokes Samoan cigarettes and is able to walk. 

“She doesn’t like it when people attempt to assist her, (she's a) very independent individual. 

“And she has travelled the world. She would just show up in Wellington or Perth and does not even tell us, she’s coming.

“Mom during her 80s visited France, and of all places she was at Normandy where the World War II landed and lasted from June 1944 to August 1944. She was in France visiting her friends. She was mostly traveling in Europe and Australia,” she said of her mother's travels.

Close to a decade ago, her mother visited the hospital after a long while for a medical check-up, Almira added. 

“And surprisingly they could not locate any of her records. Another funny thing about mom is that she’s very stubborn, and here I am thinking I am bad, but she’s worse,” she said.

Yvonne's second son, Peter Rosewarne is thankful their mother has lived to 100.

“How many can say the same? And if you ask me, her secret is just walking and eating Samoan food. Mom is very traditional and culturally based type of person, her family meant a lot to her,” he said. 

Nephew Roderick told the Samoa Observer his aunt is family-oriented. 

“My great grandfather was a Church Minister in Vaimoso, Reverend Siaosi and we have family there. And while auntie Yvonnne has a family home in Moamoa, she would live with family members year after year. 

“She rotated from one residence to another of her nieces and nephews, and we loved taking turns to care for her. She has lived with our family for more than 10 years, upon our move back from American Samoa and she’s never left since then.” 

According to Roderick, his aunt is very stubborn and once when she was bitten by a dog, she refused to take antibiotics. 

“She hates medication and always turned to her magical coconut oil as the magic wand that will heal any pain she encountered,” he added.