What began as a means to make a living has become a lifeline for a 90‑year‑old Thai woman who continues to decorate cakes every day, keeping her physically and mentally alive.
Sansanee Thawatthanapong is the owner of Parichat Bakery, which has served cakes with old‑style decoration for more than five decades at Bang Bua Thong Market in Nonthaburi province.
“It was the first cake shop in the neighbourhood and it has aged, along with our customers, who are of all generations,” Ms Sansanee said.
She originally ran a salon but had to stop because standing and serving customers all day caused health problems.
“I could not stay idle, so I thought about what to do next. I liked to eat cake and wondered how to make it delicious,” she said.
In her forties, she began learning bakery skills and joined an advanced cake‑making class in which all lessons were taught in English. “I only finished Prathom 4 (grade 4). It was difficult, but I made a determined effort.”
The hardest part was writing characters with the piping bag and tip, Ms Sansanee said. “I tried hard, thinking that if I could not do it then I must make myself able to do it.”
Her determination led to her success. At 90 years and six months of age Ms Sansanee's skills remain intact. She mixes colours, pipes fillings into flowers and other decorative shapes and writes messages to order on the cakes, all with a steady hand and without a single mistake.
‘I stopped for two months and felt something was missing’
Ms Sansanee kept Parichat Bakery going with her husband for 50 years, until he died early this year. With no employees, the store is now run by four family members - grandma Sansanee, her 87-year-old younger sister, and her 51-year-old son Sriphoom and his wife.
The store opens every morning around six, with customers buying until the cakes are gone.
“We have daily orders for birthday cakes and other celebrations. The most recommended is our vanilla‑butter pound cake,” said Mr Sriphoom, her only child. “The work begins early, around 3am. I now take care of the physically demanding jobs, while my mum mainly decorates the cakes and talks to customers.”
“We have many customers, both new and old, and we make as many cakes as we can every day,” he added, recalling: “There was a man who came here three days running, yet he had no opportunity to buy. Whenever he showed up, our cakes had already sold out.”
Ms Sansanee said that as she got older her son once suggested she stop working. “I stopped for about two months, but I couldn’t stand it,” she said. “It felt like something was missing. My body and mind slowed down.” So she kept going, doing whatever she could. “Selling goods keeps my brain working.” (Story continues below)
Grandma Sansanee walks the short distance from her house to the shop every day, with the aid of a cane. “I have not stayed at the house where the store is since my husband died in January. Climbing the same stairs makes me miss him,” she added, laughing. “The distance may be short, but at least I get some exercise.”
“I still live well, though with some health issues. I take pills every day. I eat whatever I want, only being careful not to eat overly seasoned food,” she said. “Once in a while I go on long trips with my family, visiting temples to make merit.”
One issue for a woman her age is that people must speak loudly to get an answer from her – but apart from that her age does not show that much.
Now a nonagenarian, Ms Sansanee says working keeps her feeling truly alive and valuable. “I will continue to work until I no longer can,” she said.
