105TH BIRTHDAY
Special day for Babilo
When Madelynn Babilo was born, King George V reigned, Robert Borden was Canada’s prime minister and the RMS Titanic had just sunk off the coast of Newfoundland.
In her 105 years, Babilo saw the invention of insulin, scotch tape and rocket ships. When she was born, there was no Internet, no television and no cellphones. Babilo lived through two World Wars and watched women in Canada get the right to vote.
And on May 25, she celebrated her 105th birthday with her family and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens at her side.
“She’s a very outgoing, friendly person,” Babilo’s daughter Karen Laliberte said.
“Up until recently, she loved to watch sports on TV. She was very sports-minded. When she was in high school, she played a lot of sports. She liked to golf, until she couldn’t do that anymore.”
Babilo has lived at the Village of St. Clair for two years, after spending most of her life in Windsor.
“She lived on her own until she was 102,” Laliberte said. “She loves it (at the Village of St. Clair), they take really great care of her. It’s a great place.”
Babilo’s husband passed in 1999. They had one daughter, Laliberte, who is 64. Babilo has two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Babilo couldn’t be reached for comment by the Star, but she shared her story with Schlegel Villages in a post on their website.
She said that before having children, she was an executive secretary at Chrysler. It was a position she took great pride in.
After having Laliberte, Babilo said she became a full-time wife and mother.
While Babilo said she no longer attends church services, her faith is strong. She is a longtime member of the United Church.
Babilo celebrated her birthday with a party at The Village at St. Clair on Thursday morning.
Dilkens visited Babilo to wish her happy birthday, writing on social media that he thanked her for including him on her special day.
Laliberte said she wasn’t there when Dilkens stopped by, but said she was surprised and happy to hear that he was present.
Laliberte said “it’s pretty amazing ” that at 105, her mother is one of Windsor’s oldest residents.
She said that Babilo has some difficulties hearing and seeing.
“But other than that, she’s healthy,” Laliberte said. “She walks down to the dining room on her own, without help.
“She’s got a walker, but I think she’s doing pretty good for 105.”
Up until recently, she loved to watch sports on TV. She was very sports-minded.