“Have a drink,” said Joe Januzik, a World War II veteran who was born July 11, 1922. He was the only gentleman at an unusual joint birthday party last week that honored eight centenarians living at Luther Oaks in south Bloomington.
Luther Oaks executive director Phil Bachman said it's rare to have so many residents over the age of 100, including five who live independently in apartment-style units.
“This is incredibly unusual,” he said.
To mark the occasion, seven of the eight centenarians sat at a head table in Luther Oaks’ common room, sharing cupcakes and a champagne toast with family and friends. Donna Mauer, born Sept. 16, 1922, stayed home with her canine companion, Charlie.
Rita Meland provided the evening’s entertainment. Meland creates what she calls music enrichment programs for folks in senior communities and assisted living facilities. For this occasion, she played an array of songs from each decade of the centenarians’ lives, starting with “Yes! We Have No Bananas,” written in 1923 by Frank Silver and Irving Conn.
Margaret Donze, of El Paso, turned 100 on Nov. 26. She came to live at Luther Oaks a little over a year ago.
“You know, it doesn’t feel any different than it did when I was 99,” she said of reaching the milestone. Donze likes to sew in her spare time and has made many quilts throughout her life.
“I think everybody has to have a hobby,” she aid, adding the secret to a long life is eating candy.
Donze is one of three Margarets celebrating their 100th turns around the sun. Born Aug. 9, 1920, Margaret Parkinson, 102, is the oldest. Mollie Leiken is the youngest, having turned 100 on Feb. 20. Leiken is from North Carolina. Marriage brought her to Bloomington-Normal more than 50 years ago. She likes to listen to books on tape in her spare time, but is a known card shark at Luther Oaks.
“Mollie, in her day, was a very good bridge player,” said Parkinson. “We knew the special kinds of bidding and had a great time doing that. We usually won.”
“I got out because I just can’t see enough anymore,” Leiken said. Asked about her prowess at the card table, she said, “I don’t know about that; who says that?”
Bachman attributed the residents’ longevity to the number of enrichment activities available, most of which are spearheaded by community members.
“Luther Oaks has its own golf club,” he said. “We have a resident-led genealogy club, a resident-led art club a resident-led bridge competition.”
Bachman admitted the bridge playing at Luther Oaks is “fierce.”
Grace Sturgeon of Bloomington turned 100 on Valentine’s Day. She keeps busy with physical activities like Zumba, taking advantage of every exercise program Luther Oaks offers.
“I’m just going to enjoy every minute of it,” she said.
“I think of something called the ‘Blue Zones,’” said Bachman, referring to places around the world in which people tend to live longer. Of the nine characteristics commonly found among the “Blue Zones,” Bachman said several are found at Luther Oaks.
“One of them is living in community and high social interaction,” he said. “Another is wine at five. We have a vibrant happy hour every Friday.”
“Another part of longevity, according to those that live the longest in the world, is having a spiritual connection. We have an onsite chaplain to provide inter-denominational spiritual care. We really try to pattern who we are after those principles that foster healthy living.”
The eight Luther Oaks residents celebrated at the party are: Margaret Donze, 100; Donna Maurer, 100; MaryAnn Moore, 100; Margaret Theis, 100; Grace Sturgeon, 100; Mollie Leiken, 100; Joe Januzik, 100; and Margaret Parkinson, 102.
