Saratoga News

Photograph by Louise Webb

Frances Mae Hathaway celebrates her 101st birthday with her great-grandaughter Claire.

Happy 101st Birthday!

She was born in 1895 on a Wisconsin farm

By Louise Webb

Frances Mae Hathaway, who celebrated her 101st birthday at the Saratoga Adult Day Care Center this month, refers to the center as "her club."

For the occasion, Hathaway wore a blue velvet dress she had made in her late 80s.

At her side were her 3-year-old great-granddaughter, Claire, her son, Woody Hathaway, and her daughter-in-law, Lucy. A mammoth card was signed by her fellow "club" members and volunteers and a gold crown was placed on her head.

When asked how she felt that day, Frances replied, "18."

It was hard to tell who had more fun blowing whistles at the party, Frances or her great-granddaughter Claire, who calls her great-grandmother "GG." The two obviously have a beautiful, close relationship.

Frances, born March 10, 1895, on a farm in Prairie Farm, Wis., recalled helping with farm chores. There were 12 girls and three boys in her close-knit family. She was somewhere in the middle and, because of the various heights of the children, she said, they were like little stairsteps; each one helped the next-youngest. Her youngest sister is in her early 80s and the only sibling still alive today.

There were no cars when Frances was born. The primary winter transportation back then was walking or going by horse and sleigh.

Frances' mother taught her cooking skills, including making delicious homemade pies. Frances still gets calls from the next generation requesting advice on recipes.

Her father was proud that the girls helped on the farm and completed high school. Frances left to work in the city of Minneapolis when she was in her early 20s. It was there she met John, a U.S. Navy officer. He was orphaned at 9 and adored her large family, she recalled.

Frances to this day loves to gamble and takes a particular interest in games that involve winning money. She is usually lucky. The centenarian remembers a time in Mexico when her husband talked her into betting on his horse instead of the one she chose. The one she wanted would have won her a great deal of money and she was furious.

In l978, a year after her husband's death, she moved to her son Woody's Saratoga home. Woody is her only child. There are five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

When asked what advice she would give others, Frances said that she believed in not giving advice.

"Children and adults can use their own mind and can do things well when left alone," she said.

Frances doesn't look her age and still has a keen wit and a strong mind of her own. She always gets a reaction from salespeople when she writes a check because they don't know anyone a century old.

Everyone asked Frances the inevitable question: What she's done to live to 101? "I've been a good child," she answered with a twinkle in her eye. (Her name before she married was Frances Goodchild.)

At 101 she's still having fun. Her favorite remark is, "If I just had better legs, I would. . . ."

I am looking forward to going to Frances' 102nd birthday party at "her club."

The Saratoga Adult Day Care Center is celebrating its eighth year. It began with six participants two days a week. It is now open five days a week and has over 30 participants. The program started under the leadership and tender loving care of Rita Pennington and Karen Lorenz, who still run the center.

The center, 19655 Allendale Ave., is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It offers respite for the caregivers of the frail and elderly. Call 867-3439.