Valley View celebrates 10 centenarians
Standing at the front of the community room was more than 1,000 years of combined life experience.
Ten ladies were celebrated this week at Valley View Villa for reaching the milestone of 100 years or more.
Some have crossed the milestone barrier by months. Others by years.
When Valley View Villa director of recreation and volunteer services Cathy Ryan first met Gertie MacDonald she walked into her apartment at Havenbrook Manor and saw her working at a computer.
Now 101, she still does her banking and other business online. Her sister Helen Ward at 103 lives just across the hall from her. She doesn’t really use computers she says: “only to play games.”
They have no real answer to why they’ve lived so long.
“We just happen to be the lucky ones I guess,” said Ward.
She said both her parents passed away in their 80s.
“I think the quality of the medication today has something to do with it.”
But perhaps there’s something in the water around Riverton.
Here’s a look at the residents honoured for surpassing a century of living:
Nan McKean
Born: Aug. 8, 1911
Place of Birth: Churchville, Pictou County
Age: 106 years
Johanna Hafey
Born: Feb. 16, 1917
Place of Birth: Grosvenor, Guysborough County
Age: 101 years
Audrey Rudolph
Born: Dec. 29, 1917
Place of Birth: Pictou
Age: 100 years
Helen Ward
Born: April 16, 1915
Place of Birth: McLellans Mountain
Age: 103 years
Gertie MacDonald
Born: March 17, 1917
Place of Birth: McLellans Mountain
Age: 101 years
Dorothy MacDonald
Born: May 14, 1917
Place of Birth: New Glasgow
Age: 101 years
Emily Donnelly
Born: Oct. 2, 1917
Place of Birth: Marshy Hope
Age: 100 years young
Annie “Babs” Currie
Born: March 21, 1912
Place of Birth: Leith Edinburg, Scotland
Age: 106
Rita Nicholson
Born: Jan. 19, 1918
Place of Birth: Havre Boucher
Age: 100 years
Janet MacLean
Born: March 24, 1918
Place of Birth: Westville
Age: 100 years