Croatian woman turns 105 and reveals her secret

Helena Janes has reached a remarkable milestone, celebrating her 105th birthday at her home in Zagreb surrounded by family, friends and neighbours.

Born in Ludina, Janes moved to Zagreb in the 1950s and has spent most of her life in the Croatian capital. She celebrated her latest birthday in her apartment, where she was visited by loved ones and well-wishers.

For her 105th birthday, Janes had a rather unusual request. Instead of a traditional birthday cake, she wanted wine.

The team from Dnevnik Nova TV brought her a bottle of wine along with a blanket as a birthday gift.

Before blowing out the candles, Janes said there was only one thing she wished for: good health.

Looking back on more than a century of life, Janes has experienced periods of major historical change, including several wars. She said she believes she has lived through three wars during her lifetime.

Her only major health problem came shortly after the Second World War, when she contracted tuberculosis in 1947.

“I had severe tuberculosis, I even had a cavity in my lung,” Janes told Dnevnik Nova TV.

Despite that illness, she said she has otherwise enjoyed good health and has never spent time in hospital.

Asked about her routine and whether she has a particular secret to reaching such an advanced age, Janes offered a remarkably simple answer.

“I never went to hospital, I don’t drink coffee or wine and I never smoke. Never. I eat lightly, simple food. At 10 or 10.30pm, I’m in bed,” she said.

She added that she gets up in the morning when she wants, but keeps to her regular bedtime.

“There is no big secret,” she said.

Janes completed a full working career and has now been retired for longer than she worked.

She also remains independent and is still able to manage everyday life on her own.

Her birthday did not go unnoticed in her Zagreb neighbourhood. Neighbours continued arriving throughout the day to congratulate her, recalling how she had celebrated her 100th birthday with a much larger gathering for the residents of her building.

“For my hundredth, I had a big celebration. I invited the whole building and we had a party outside. That is life,” she said.

Five years later, Janes marked another extraordinary milestone in a much more intimate setting, with those closest to her.

At 105, her message remains simple: health matters most.

And for Janes, a regular routine, simple food, an early bedtime and staying independent appear to have remained part of everyday life for more than a century.