Reporter spent the afternoon with Palmirinha in the last interview she gave to Folha; see how it went

Palmirinha died this Sunday (7), due to kidney problems. In the last interview granted to Folha de S.Paulo, in July of last year, the presenter spoke about the best memories of her life, what she still liked to cook and which ends up crying with so much unemployment. Remember below.

Far from TV, but active in the business sector, cook Palmirinha Onofre, 91, does not give up having her corner. A resident of the 10th floor of a building well located in the south zone of São Paulo, she received a report from F5 with pepperoni cheese buns from their newest culinary line.

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

“I’m in very good health. I eat well, sleep well and have affection from everyone. Sometimes we get up feeling unwell, take a pill that makes us sleep a little, 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 you have to speak louder so that the cook can hear one thing or another clearly. Sandra, who in addition to being a daughter is also a partner and responsible for managing Palmirinha’s business directions, helps at times to transmit the message to her, but nothing that takes away the mood, happiness and smile of the “little friend” during the sunny Tuesday afternoon when she spoke with the F5.

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

How is your health?

I am in very good health, because I eat well, I sleep well and I am loved by everyone, thank God. With age, sometimes I wake up feeling unwell, I take a pill that makes me a little sleepy, but I’m fine. The geriatrician comes here when he needs it or tells me what I should take. He has some meds I take morning and night. I shower alone, I change alone, I’m fine.

And head? Does it go 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 the 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 mad at. 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 am no longer the way I was. Sometimes my memory fails a little, but I think it’s okay. I don’t want to give work to my daughters.

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 her own corner. I live opposite. 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 going 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 some money.

Do you miss working on television?

Many times I put it on TV and I appear, they talk about me. I don’t want to work anymore, I’ve worked enough, right? I feel good when they remember me on TV. Marcos Mion spoke about me the other day, Luciano Huck is very affectionate with me. I like to watch 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 nearby. I’m a happy person, and these daughters I have are wonderful and they don’t abandon me.

The lady, aged 91, still works as a businesswoman.

I like this work, when they say that [determinado produto] it’s from Palmirinha everyone wants to do. Who takes 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 closure 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 it has only one store, over there in the Masp region [na avenida Paulista, em São Paulo], Casa Vovó Palmirinha. We are currently studying franchising and analyzing how we can grow with the store. And there is the launch of its 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 with their approval, the recipe is theirs. We are negotiating with some networks. And the most recent line of seasonings she launched is also in the negotiation phase with supermarkets.

How was the lady’s life in the pandemic?

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

Sandra (daughter): With her company’s money we pay all the bills and what’s left over we invest to make money. But all my mother’s company and private bills are paid and the money is hers, for whatever she needs, everything is in her name. I am a proxy and a partner in the company, but everything has her endorsement.

Do you pray a lot?

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

Changing the subject, do you still have a dream to fulfill?

I don’t, the only thing is that, before I die, I want to see my family well and united. 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 it. You earn your little money to buy things for the family.

What does the lady’s 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. Mother can be whatever she is, but she gave her life for you. You can’t create the mother’s grief. I only had affection from the three daughters that I have [Sandra, Nancy e Tânia]. I have comfort. I am accomplished. When I leave, I won’t be hurt by anyone (Palmeirinha cries).

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

I like to make breaded steak, onions, rice, chicken. I really like pot stuff, meat roasted in a pot, delicious pie. I like any food. My mom made polenta with chicken when we lived on the farm. She was a child and I still remember.

Looking back on your life, what are your best memories?

My three daughters, who I will always miss. But [profissionalmente] that 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 a new interview?

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