If you look at the number you will have to "give" yourself a couple of seconds to assimilate the figure. It is that having about two hundred direct relatives is not something that happens every day.
That is the life story of Catalina Peloc, better known as Doña Cata, who turned 102 in July.
He was born on July 19, 1921 in Santa Victoria, Salta, and moved to Varela seven decades ago, where he never left. The incredible: between children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, in addition to one more on the way, there are 194 direct relatives.
Doña Catalina with her cake of the 102 years.
"Of occupation, housewife," says Romina, one of her granddaughters, in conversation with Clarín. She clarifies that her grandmother's life was always closely linked to that of her grandfather, now deceased, Pedro Origüela, whom she married in 1952 and with whom she had 12 of the 13 children.
"I always helped my grandfather in his kiosk, bookstore and sundries business. He also worked a lot on the farm where they harvested their own vegetables. And all this in his current house in front of school number 31, where he still lives today," he adds.
And he concludes: "That Sunday we celebrated his birthday and almost the whole family was reunited. There was a DJ, a mechanical bull for the abu to laugh at who was climbing since she is like a child, she likes to laugh at the antics that her family does. "
Doña Catalina celebrated her 102 years with her family and a mechanical bull.
It will be the task of another to imagine how the meetings and family meetings will be, not to mention the disputes or disagreements that, as in any family can occur, although the truth is that the total figures are: 2 sons, 11 daughters, 49 grandchildren, 104 great-grandchildren and 28 great-great-grandchildren.
The birthday had everything. DJ, mechanical bull, and – a peculiarity – with which Catalina enjoys a lot: playing with the cream of the cake, as well as throwing candies on the floor and having her relatives run to get them.
In fact, in one of the videos of the celebrations, you can see how he plays with a close family member at the time of greetings.
Any excuse for the meeting is enough: one of the things he enjoys most, express his relatives, is to celebrate above all, Mother's Day and, by the way, his birthday.
They also note: "The abu is old-fashioned, I didn't watch TV until recently when we bought one." Now whenever he can, he takes advantage and puts the canals where the landscapes of his native Salta pass.
Multitudinous selfie. Guillermo, the son of Doña Cata portrays the whole family.
Because of her age, there are certain things that Doña Cata had to stop doing, but, from her close circle, they emphasize that her hobby was always cooking in her clay oven: homemade bread, cornbread and even pizza. She also enjoys sewing.
"Since Pedro passed away she lives alone, so among the daughters we have to take turns to take care of her one day a week each, but she is never alone," Romina resumes.
Doña Catalina, at 102 years old, likes to joke with her relatives.
And he adds: "In the neighborhood, because of her mixture of festive joy, they recognize her and greet her and love her very much."
About the end, he says: "That's how she is, Catherine, a great mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and neighbor."