One of the oldest inhabitants of the home, Marieke is a very fit and spry 95 year old. She used to have a butcher's shop in the village of Linden and still wishes she could be working instead of being retired. She does not like to be waited upon, and prefers to make her own bed and tidy her room. As is the case with many other people in the home, she has decorated her room with photos from the past. She showed me one photo of one of her old cars, which happened to be the first car of the entire village and was used to drive the then Miss Belgium around. She cannot quite remember how many generations there are in her family, but she thinks at least five.
She still likes to take care of her appearance and put on a nice blouse, jewelry and make up for the occasion.