Palmirinha, 91: ‘You know you’re old, but I don’t feel that way’

Far from TV, but active in the business sector, cook Palmirinha Onofre, 91, does not give up having her own little corner. Living on the 10th floor of a building well located in the south of São Paulo, she received the report from F5 with cheese rolls and pepperoni from its newest culinary line.

It is in this apartment of about 50 square meters, decorated with several images of Nossa Senhora Aparecida – and with a small room reserved for one of her caregivers to sleep; there are three professionals taking turns 24 hours a day – that Palmira Nery da Silva Onofre lives alone, a demand she made of her daughter Sandra. But just a trip to the window in the service area and, with a wave, Sandra herself, a resident of the building opposite, can tell if her mother is okay or if she needs something.

“I’m in very good health. I eat well, I sleep well and I get affection from everyone. Sometimes, we get up feeling unwell, we take a pill that makes us fall asleep a little bit, but I’m fine. I shower alone, change,” says Palmirinha. , who in the building is called “girl” by some residents and says she prefers to stay at home watching soap operas and her favorite shows. “Marcos Mion always says my name and Luciano Huck is very affectionate.”

Sometimes it is necessary to speak louder so that the cook hears one thing or another clearly. Sandra, who in addition to being a daughter is also a partner and responsible for managing Palmirinha’s business paths, sometimes helps to convey the message to her, but nothing that takes away the disposition, happiness and smile of her “little friend” during the sunny Tuesday afternoon when she talked to the F5.

“You know you’re old, but I don’t feel that way. I do things that the girls who help me get angry. I help clean the house. I want to have the life I had before and, unfortunately, I have to get it into my head that I don’t I’m more like I used to be. Sometimes my memory fails a little, but I think it’s okay. I don’t want to give my memory trouble [três] daughters.”

How is your health?

I am in very good health, because I eat well, I sleep well and I have love from everyone, thank God. With age, sometimes I get up feeling unwell, I take a pill that makes me fall asleep a little, but I’m fine. The geriatrician comes here when he needs it or tells me what to take. He has some medicine that I take morning and night. I shower alone, change alone, I’m fine.

And in the head? Are you doing well too?

I’m fine, I make my cheese rolls, I sell them. I go somewhere they call me, sometimes in a wheelchair or hugging girls, my daughters. I do almost everything the same. You know you’re old, but I don’t feel that way. I do things that the girls who help me get angry. I help clean the house. I want to have the life I had before and unfortunately I have to get it in my head that I’m not what I used to be. Sometimes my memory fails a little, but I think it’s okay. I don’t want to give my daughters work.

Sandra (daughter): She demanded to live alone, but she has caregivers 24 hours a day and there are three of them. But she wanted to live alone and I gave in, because everyone wants to have a corner of hers. I live across the street. We are three daughters. Every day I’m here with her. The older sister comes here every other day to stay with her.

What do you most like to do?

I don’t really like to go out, I like to enjoy my life in my little corner. Sometimes my daughters travel and they want me to go, but I don’t, because I want to enjoy my home. I’m fine, I have a wonderful family, my daughters, who are great people and who take care of my things to make a little money.

Do you miss working on television?

I often put it on TV and I appear, they talk about me. I don’t want to work anymore, I’ve worked a lot, right? I feel good when they remember me on TV. Marcos Mion talked about me the other day, Luciano Huck is very affectionate with me. I like to see Ana Maria Braga and the soap opera [“Além da Ilusão”]. I do not lose. I attend mass on Sundays. And there are my grandchildren and great-grandchildren [são 6 de cada]. Saturday they come to see me. Just cross the street, they live close by. I’m a happy person, and these daughters I have are wonderful and they don’t abandon me.

The lady, at 91, is still working as a businesswoman.

I like this job, when they say that [determinado produto] it’s from Palmirinha everyone wants to do it. Those who take care of it are my daughter and my son-in-law. I approve everything and sign. If it’s good, I approve. With the pandemic, I was hurt by the closing of some stores, because some employees lost their jobs with this crisis and now it’s difficult. I get sad, because I suffer as if it were me.

​Sandra (daughter): Now she has only one store, there in the Masp region [na avenida Paulista, em São Paulo], the Casa Vovó Palmirinha. We are currently studying franchising and analyzing how we can grow with the store. And there is the launch of her line of cheese bread and the great differential of this product is that it has leek and pepperoni. Now, we wait for the packaging to be ready and soon it will be in supermarkets. There is a company that licensed the brand upon approval of it, the revenue is its own. We are negotiating with some networks. And the most recent line of seasonings that she launched is also in the negotiation phase with supermarkets.

How was your life during the pandemic?

didn’t hit me [financeiramente]. Unfortunately, there are people who are suffering from this and in my prayers I ask you to resolve this issue and everyone can get a little money for the family. Sometimes I change the channel because I start to cry, I feel really sorry [vendo a crise e os abalos financeiros trazidos pela pandemia].

Sandra (daughter): With the money from her company we pay all the bills and what is left we apply to earn money. But all my mother’s company and private bills are paid and the money is hers, for whatever she needs, it’s all in her name. I am an attorney and partner in the company, but everything has her approval.

Do you pray a lot?

In prayers, I don’t just think about myself, but about people in need. I saw a child [na TV] who no longer had a school and that leaves room to become a lost person. I feel like it’s me. This morning I cried when I saw a little boy asking for a roll and it breaks my heart. I pray a lot for them (Palmirinha cries).

Changing the subject, do you still have any dreams to fulfill?

I don’t, the only thing is that, before I die, I want to see my family well and together. I don’t want anything else. Nossa Senhora Aparecida gave me everything I wanted, always selling everything, I was never ashamed of not having a car and taking the one at the fair and going out to sell. You earn your money to buy things for the family.

What does your family represent?

Everything in my life, especially my daughters, wonderful sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandson, a granddaughter in the United States, who always calls me. My grandson works all day and sometimes stops by. This is my life. Mom can be whatever, but she gave her life for you. You cannot create grief for the mother. I only had affection for the three daughters I have [Sandra, Nancy e Tânia]. I have comfort. I am accomplished. When I leave, I won’t be hurt by anyone (Palmirinha cries).

Do you still cook at home? What do you most like to prepare?

I like to make breaded steak, onions, rice, chicken. I really like pan things, roasted meat in the pan, delicious pie. I like any food. My mother used to make polenta with chicken when we lived there. She was a child and I still remember.

Looking at your life, what are the best memories?

My three daughters, whom I will miss. But [profissionalmente] it was when I won a program on TV Gazeta, TV Culinária (2000-2010), that day was the happiest.

When you turn 100, can I do another interview?

Ah, imagine, that doesn’t do that (laughs)!