Aleta Martin’s 100th birthday
A resident of St-Jacques Nursing home in Embrun celebrated her 100th birthday on Wednesday, May 18, among friends and family.
Aleta Martin was born in Saint John, New Brunswick on May 18, 1916. Ms. Martin was one of three children, two of which are still alive to this day, her sister Bernice being two years younger at 98 years of age. She was married in 1942 to Randy Martin after which the couple moved to the Montreal area in the early 1950’s.
Mr. and Ms. Martin came to the area in the 1980’s, settling in Dunbar before moving to Chesterville a few years later. Ms. Martin has two children, a daughter and a son, as well as three grandchildren. Her son Bryan Martin still lives in Chesterville and has a son of his own, Ryan. Her daughter Jane Callen presently lives in British Colombia with her two daughters, Krista and Leah Callen.
Both Ms. Martin’s daughter Jane and granddaughter Leah were present for her 100th birthday party and enjoyed a lunch menu consisting of fried chicken, corn, fries and some cake, all things chosen by Ms. Martin herself for her birthday. Although she is now 100 years old, Ms. Martin is still in good health and has a lot to say. When asked what her secret to living so long was, Ms. Martin simply answered with “Pray to God and don’t worry”.
“She saw many life changes through her 100 years but one constant is her belief in the power of prayer. She’s been a homemaker, worked in retail, sang in her church choir and had a green thumb. She could grow anything from a seed. She enjoyed baking desserts. I remember fondly that she made the best deep fried doughnuts in the world!,” said Ms. Callen about her mother.