Ridley Park woman attributes walking and gardening to living 100 years
RIDLEY PARK >> When Anna Pikes opened her eyes to a brand new day on a recent Tuesday morning, she officially earned the title of “centenarian.”
Pikes, born Sept. 10, 1919, celebrated her 100th birthday a few days ahead of the actual big day, with a party at her home last week, lovingly attended by family and friends. Surrounded by flowers, gifts, a special 100th birthday cake, and lots of best wishes, the “birthday girl” marked the milestone occasion by reflecting back on a lifetime of unique experiences and happy memories.
“So far, I’ve had a good life,” she said simply during an recent interview. “I really did!”
Born in Eddystone to Joseph and Tophile Lackus, who immigrated to America from Vilnius, Lithuania, Pikes was raised with her four other siblings in “the meadows” section of Southwest Philadelphia. She attended St. Raphael elementary School, Tilden Junior High School, West Philadelphia High School, and later transferred to John Bartram High School, graduating in 1937.
When she was only a young girl, she landed a job at John Wanamaker Department Store, 13th and Market streets, Philadelphia, as a “coffee girl.”
“Truthfully, I don’t think they had an actual job for me so they made up this one. They gave me a stool to stand on and I poured coffee,” she remembered with a smile. Anna Pikes, 100 year-old, front right, is surrounded by her “A-team” of caregivers, Christina Hoffer, Mary Foster, Karen Rohrer, and Bill and Barbara Hummel. Her caregiver friends attended her 100th birthday bash.
Pikes quickly moved on, Philadelphia for 26 years and began working as a and then at National Printing server in the prestigious Co., where he printed Bibles, Crystal Tea Room at John until his retirement at Wanamaker, a position she age 75. held for more than 50 years. “We had more Bibles in
“They kept offering me an our home than you could opportunity to move to hostess count,” Anna laughed, thinking and other positions, but back. “John kept bringing I liked being a waitress and home more Bibles.” the money was better, too,” The couple moved to she said. Springfield in the 1950s,
When Pikes was a teenager, and later to Ridley Park in a neighbor who had 13 the 1980s, where Anna still children would hold a coffee resides. The Pikes were married klatch at her home. The 59 years when John woman would push back the passed away in 1999. furniture, play some music, The couple had one and allow the young people daughter, Anna Marie Marshall, in the neighborhood to dance. and one granddaughter It was at one of these coffee Jennifer Ann Marshall, klatch gatherings that Anna’s both current residents of Kiawah future husband, John Pikes, Island, South Carolina. asked her for their first date. “My mother is a fiercely independent
“His parents owned a woman,” daughter grocery store in my neighborhood, Anna shared. “When I so I already knew lived in Washington Square, him,” Anna shared. “We Philadelphia, she and my father played as little kids. When came to live with me for we got older, I thought he a while when my father was was a hotshot!” sick. My mother, who always
Anna married “the hotshot” took the train to work from in 1949. John worked Delaware County, walked at Curtis Publishing Co. in from Washington Square to Wanamaker’s every day to work. She refused rides. I think that’s what has kept her so healthy!”
“I’ve always loved walking,” interjected the birthday honoree, sharing her secrets to longevity. “I’ve always had a passion for walking and for gardening and creating beautiful gardens so that kept me pretty active. I really think those things helped me live a long and happy life.”