MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. -- Merrill Gardens Assisted/Independent Living in Mountlake Terrace is celebrating an accomplishment this week that they believe few retirement communities can share. They now have five women in their community who are at least 100 years old.
Eleanor Kurtzweg turned 100 this week.
She was a teacher, and she’s still a writer. Something she wrote at 99 reads in part, “In this lifetime we’ve had two depressions, three wars; We’ve even seen terrorists threaten our shores. There have been advances in the medical field, and modern technology will more wonders yield. It is fun to look back on the 'Good Old Days,' But I am sure we all enjoy some of the modern ways.”
Eleanor said she knows the key to a long life.
“I think it’s keeping your mind and your body active,” Kurtzweg said. “I’ve always done quite a bit of exercising and also mentally I’ve tried.”
The staff at Merrill Gardens says the group is one big family, and they are so grateful for all the time they get to spend with them.
The other four centenarians are 100-year-olds Josephine Johnson, Dorine Overton, Mildred Schmidt, and 104-year-old Theresa Pfennig.
“These ladies just bring joy to my life every day. They are just invigorating. They are just amazing, full of life for their age, it’s just amazing,” Jim Perpich said. “When most of these ladies were in their younger years, there were only 5,000 cars on the road and only 10,000 cars in the area. They’ve seen so much and have so much knowledge to share with us and I think it’s important for us workers in the community to learn from them as well.”
“One thing that they all have in common is that they are all very happy, they’re all very pleasant, even when they’re not feeling well,” Pat Akins said. “They just have an upbeatness about them and they’re just easy to love.”
