[Photo caption: Eight residents at St. Joseph’s Living Center in Windham celebrated a milestone with a 100th birthday party with staff and their families on Wednesday.]

By Nicole Zappone

Saint Joseph’s Living Center in Windham celebrated eight of its residents from the area who have reached the milestone of turning 100 years old.

To celebrate, a birthday party luncheon was given to what the center calls its “centenarians.”

Those who celebrated their birthdays included Bernadette Gaudet, Sr Fern Lailberte, Emily Lambert, Ernestine Lenkiewicz, Sr Claire Poulin, Joan Sobuta, Sophie Szczurek and Tina Tedford.

“Today we had the privilege of celebrating eight remarkable centenarians who reside at St. Joseph’s Living Center,” said Marissa Kowal, executive director of St. Joseph Living Center. “This group of women are full of life. Mayor Tom DeVivo and Father Larry Lapointe joined the centenarians and their families for today’s festivities. The highlight of the day was listening to the life story of each centenarian.”

Staff members and family members attended the festivities, which included a poem read by Tracey Megson titled “One More Year.” Megson has served as the therapeutic recreation supervisor since 2016.

Following the poem was a song performed by Sara Sabo, who used to work at St. Joseph’s.

After Sabo’s performance, citations were given by Dennis O’Brien on behalf of State Rep. Susan Johnson, who did not attend, as well as DeVivo.

“I worked with Sophie’s (Szczurek) brother a very long time ago,” DeVivo said. “He actually taught me how to drive a truck. He took me out at 17, which was a long time ago.”

After the citations were given out, Lapointe blessed the meal and Sabo performed another song as the meals were being served.

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