‘Inspirational’: Montreal CHSLD celebrating nine women turning 100 & older this year
Some Montrealers are living life to the fullest — literally!
CityNews was at CHSLD Pierre-Joseph-Triest on Tuesday where nine incredible women were celebrating a big birthday milestone, each turning 100 years old or more this year.
“Everyone is smiling, everyone is having fun,” said Vicki Bérubé, a recreational technician at the CHSLD and who spearheaded the event. “They are singing the songs, they are dancing.”
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Centenarians at CHSLD Pierre-Joseph-Triest:
- Eugenie Joseph: Turning 105 years old in September
- Cecile Pilon: Turning 102 years old
- Yvette Daignault: 102 years old
- Marcelle Soulard: 102 years old
- Marie-Claire Pelletier: 100 years old
- Mariette Bruneau: 100 years old
- Marcelle St-Pierre: 100 years old
- Irena Beaudoin: Turned 100 year old on July 15
- Gertrude Perreault: Turning 100 years old
Music, cake, smiles, and family filled the room –- and a lot of wisdom too, the centenarians sharing their secrets to longevity.
“My secret, it’s one day at a time,” said Joseph, who was born in 1919, she will be 105 years old in Sept.
“I always take care of myself,” added 100-year-old, Bruneau.
Nearly 102-year-old Pilon explained that she has no secret at all.
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“Oh I don’t have one,” she said. “I don’t have one because life, it restarts everyday.”
“She went through many things,” said Gisele Marcotte, Pilon’s daughter. “We are very very happy that she lives here, she’s well here, this is what matters for us.”
After realizing that nine of their residents would have reached a century – and more – this year, the entire long-term care home team got involved with organizing this joined birthday celebration.
Lyette Theroux, the director of CHSLD Pierre-Joseph-Triest said, “I don’t know if I will live as long as they do but it’s nice to see that you can live long, you can live healthy, you can still have fun.”
“People living here are losing autonomy,” she added. “That’s why they’re living here.”
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“We have different people, they’re coming from different districts of Montreal.”
“It’s really inspirational to be with them, nine of them,” said Bérubé. “Because in the day-to-day we don’t get to meet a person who is 100 years old.”
“And now we have nine,” she added. “Now we have nine.”
