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The 100 Club |
| BL » News » The 100 Club |
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March 13, 2005 |
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By Rachel E. Sheeley
Staff Writer
Local centenarians met for the first time at a recent luncheon, and found they shared more than their years
Mary Blemke wanted to have lunch with someone her own age. That was a bit of a challenge—since she's 104.
However, staff members at her residence, Rose Gate Village, arranged for Mary Poffenberger, 100, of Beverly Healthcare Golden Rule to visit. To make it even more special for the women, Richmond Mayor Sally Hutton shared in their recent—and favorite—meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and slaw.
"They had such a good time. It was wonderful," said Rose Gate Village activity director Cathy Orr. "I'm glad they got to meet. It was something a little out of the ordinary."
Blemke and Poffenberger were not acquainted before the luncheon, but they discovered that their paths probably crossed about 90 years ago.
Both attended Jefferson Township schools in New Paris, Ohio.
"C.R. Coblentz was superintendent when I went to school," Blemke said, mentioning the man for whom the National Trail School District was previously named. "We had good teachers in New Paris School."
The women reminisced about the community in which they grew up, the teachers they had and the people they knew.
"I knew her sister, but I didn't remember her," Poffenberger said.
Blemke, who was born Jan. 3, 1901, was the oldest, with two younger sisters and a younger brother. A sister is still living. Poffenberger, who was born May 18, 1904, grew up with four brothers and two sisters. She is the only one still living.
Blemke's parents died while she was young, and she lived with her grandmother, overseeing her siblings, on a farm near New Paris. The farm had a spring, which fed a creek, and a grove of paw-paw trees, which attracted hungry youngsters.
At school, Blemke memorized passages by William Shakespeare and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. She can still recite them.
Finances were tight and Blemke left school to work at the Atlas Underwear Factory in Richmond, where she made garments that were sold at Sak's Fifth Avenue in New York and a department store in Chicago. When she later visited the stores on her travels, she found that Sak's didn't live up to her expectations.
"It wasn't what I thought it'd look like. I didn't care for it very much," Blemke said.
Poffenberger graduated from Jefferson High School, married and lived in Preble County on a farm with her husband, Henry, who died in 1989. They raised hogs, chickens and a garden. She sometimes worked odd jobs for people in the county.
Poffenberger had a son, who is deceased, and a daughter, Geneva McRoberts of West Manchester, Ohio. She has three grandsons, 10 great-grandchildren and three great-great-granddaughters, including twin girls.
The twins were born in May 2004, just missing Poffenberger's birthday.
"They're cute as can be now," Poffenberger said.
After working for nearly 40 years at Atlas Underwear, Blemke left the company and became housekeeper at the Richmond Catholic Community rectory.
"It was fun working there, because I saw so many people," Blemke said.
She enjoyed cooking for the staff, including Monsignor Lawrence Moran, whom she recalls as being "always hungry."
Blemke and Poffenberger chatted about their skills in the kitchen with pride, and each said the fried chicken served at their luncheon in no way compared to what each used to make from scratch.
Blemke retired from the Richmond Catholic Community in 1972 and lived at Interfaith Apartments until moving to Rose Gate Village in the mid-1990s.
Poffenberger moved to Golden Rule three years ago.
Neither woman knew the secret to her longevity.
"I never had no intention or idea I'd live to be 100," Poffenberger said. "We just live on and on as long as they'll let us."
Local centenarians
You can reach reporter Rachel E. Sheeley at (765) 973-4458 or rsheeley@pal-item.com.
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