WILLEMSTAD - There are some birthdays that are celebrations, and then there are birthdays that become part of the history of a family, a community and an island.
On the evening of August 15, approximately 150 friends and family members gathered at Brakkeput Mei Mei to celebrate an extraordinary milestone: the 90th birthday of Editha Jourdain, born on Curaçao on August 15, 1936.
Mama Gita during her celebration
Surrounded by generations of people who love her, Editha celebrated her ninth decade with fabulous food, music, singing, dancing and, perhaps most importantly, the laughter that has accompanied so much of her remarkable life.
For Editha, 90 is not simply a number. It represents a life filled with adventure, accomplishment, style, creativity, family, friendship and an enduring love for Curaçao.
A Trailblazer in the World of Luxury Jewellery
Long before luxury jewellery became the global industry it is today, Editha was building an impressive career with Spritzer & Fuhrmann, the ultimate luxury jeweller retailer of the 20th century on Curaçao.
Her career took her far beyond the island. She was sent to Europe several times to train directly with prestigious luxury jewellery houses, gaining knowledge and experience that she brought back to Curaçao.
At a time when international professional opportunities for women were far less common than they are today, Editha's career and travels were truly trailblazing.
Her knowledge of jewellery remains vast, and her appreciation for beautiful things has always been matched by an impeccable personal sense of style. Even at 90, Editha has that unmistakable eye for elegance—and, naturally, a fantastic taste in jewellery.
But jewellery was only one part of her story.
An Adventurous Life Beyond the Island
Editha's life was also intertwined with the public life of Curaçao through her husband, Henri Jourdain, who was prominent in the government of Curaçao.
Together, Henri and Editha shared a sense of adventure that was unusual for their generation.
In 1967, the couple embarked on a months-long cruise, travelling to ports that included Jamaica. At the time, Jamaica was not yet the established cruise destination that it would later become. Pleasure cruising itself was still in the early stages of the era that would eventually transform the industry.
For a Curaçao couple to undertake such an extensive cruise at that time was an adventure in every sense of the word.
It was characteristic of Editha: curious, adventurous, sophisticated and never afraid to experience something new.
A Woman of Many Talents
Those who know Editha well understand that describing her simply as a jewellery expert hardly does her justice.
She is a fabulous chef, an accomplished linguist who speaks more than four languages fluently, and a creative interior designer. She and Henri designed and built the home where she still lives today—a testament to their creativity and vision.
She has exceptional management skills and an innate ability to organize, create and bring ideas to life.
And despite everything she has accomplished, perhaps one of her greatest qualities is the person she has remained.
Editha is still sharp as a tack. She has an extraordinary memory and countless stories from a life that has taken her across continents and through decades of change.
There are so many memories she has shared with me that it would be impossible to list them all here.
"Mama Gita"
My relationship with Editha is particularly special.
She calls me her daughter.
I call her Mama Gita.
When my own mother passed away in December 2022, Editha told me, "Do not worry, sweetheart. I am your mother here on Earth now."
She meant it.
And she has lived those words.
Whenever I visit her, we laugh and laugh. We talk about everything—life, people, memories, jewellery, food, travel and all the wonderfully interesting things that fill the hours when two people genuinely enjoy one another's company.
That relationship is one of the many gifts Editha has given me.
A Family Tradition of Longevity
Perhaps it should come as no surprise that Editha has reached 90 with such vitality.
She comes from a remarkable line of strong, long-living women. Her mother lived to the age of 96, while her grandmother lived to an extraordinary 103.
There is clearly something special in the women of Editha's family—a combination of strength, resilience and perhaps a little bit of that Curaçao magic.
At 90, Editha continues to embody all three.
Surrounded by Love
The gathering at Brakkeput Mei Mei was a reflection of the life Editha has created.
Approximately 150 people came together to celebrate her, filling the evening with wonderful food, singers, dancing and laughter.
Yet beyond the festivities was something even more meaningful: the people.
Editha is always surrounded by loving friends and family, a testament to her kind and generous nature. People are drawn to her not simply because of her accomplishments, but because of the warmth she gives to others.
Ninety years have brought her a lifetime of experiences, but they have also brought her something perhaps even more valuable—the love and affection of the people whose lives she has touched.
A Gift to Curaçao
On August 15, we celebrated the day Editha Jourdain was born on Curaçao 90 years ago.
We celebrated a woman who travelled the world when doing so was not commonplace, who built a distinguished career in the luxury jewellery world, who embraced adventure, who created a beautiful home, who speaks multiple languages, cooks beautifully, designs, manages, remembers and creates.
But most of all, we celebrated a woman who loves and is deeply loved.
Editha's life is more than a collection of accomplishments. It is a story of a woman who opened doors, crossed oceans, embraced opportunity and remained generous with the people around her.
Her 90th birthday was an evening filled with music, dancing, delicious food and laughter—but it was also a celebration of history.
The day Editha was born was, in its own way, a gift to Curaçao.
And 90 years later, she continues to be one.
Happy 90th birthday, Mama Gita.
May the laughter continue for many more years.