My great Aunt Jean turned 100 years old last week. I asked her 5 questions.
Where were you born?
I was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1914. When I was 8 my family moved to Oshawa. I had 16 dolls and my mother told me there wasn’t enough room to take them all so she stood on the corner and gave them to little girls and told them not to tell Jean. To get to Ontario we took the train and then a ship. I shut that whole ship down when I got measles. Quarantined the whole thing (laughs hysterically).
Tell me about your husband.
My husband Jack died half a century ago. He was a navigator in the Lancaster Bomber and went on 45 missions during World War II.
What was the very first movie you went to see and what movie star did you have a crush on?
What?! That was a really long time ago. I have no idea (hysterical laughter). I don’t remember who I had a crush on! Charlie Chaplin, I guess. I used to go to the movies all the time. My father owned a menswear store downtown and the theatre was right across the street so I’d go visit him and he’d give me money to go to the movies to watch a show and buy candy. If I wasn’t at the movies, for fun I’d talk to all the construction workers around my house and if they weren’t around my mother could always find me in the one room school house across the street sitting beside the teacher.
If you could only have 1 beauty product what would it be?
Lipstick and wrinkle cream. I started using wrinkle cream a year or two ago. I just buy whatever’s on sale. I don’t think those ones on television where they want you to call in right away are any better. Just buy the stuff that’s on sale.
What do you want for your birthday?
An iPad. I really want an iPad. If no one gets me one I’ll just go to the Apple store at the mall and pick one up. It’s only money.
You can say that because you’re 100! (Laughs hysterically.)
Have a good weekend. Make it count.
AWESOME, Karen.
Oh my! Two beautiful women! Karen I LOVE your dress!!!
Thanks Marilyn. I actually got it in Thailand! ~ karen
Rock on Aunt Jean!
Awesome.
Wow, she looks fantastic for 100!! And I love that she started using wrinkle cream at 98 years old!
Love your aunt!!!!
Love you Aunt Jean! You ROCK!
1914 was a very good year!
I wonder if Aunt Jean has an opinion about the general state of the world today-I am 74,grew up with WW 2
Korea, Viet Nam, and the various skirmishes that involved combat but weren’t called Wars. Climate change, in our Country still after all these years we have racial tension and of course all of the chaos around the World. I wouldn’t want to depress her but still we are meant to glean Wisdom from our Seniors and she might just have a very profound assessment of what its all about. You look beautiful with your Aunt and I think I can see some resemblance so now you know what you’re going to look like at 100.
Wow! She seems great and she looks good! Got some good genes there Karen!
I’d like to know what she thinks is the key to a long life!?
Love this! It really brightened up my day 🙂
Wonderful….but frankly 5 questions is just a teaser. I want to know more about Aunt Jean!! I love that she wants an iPad and if no one buys her one, well she’ll just get down to the Apple store and buy it!
And Karen, you have a beautiful long neck. I’ve always wanted a long neck…or any neck at all would be great!
That dress….wowzers.
There’s no doubt in the world that woman is related to Betty! If nothing else, the shoes give it away. What a party — 80 and 100. Whooppee!
Please tell me that aunt Jean got an iPad for her birthday.
To be able to quarantine to whole ship! Now that’s a good life. Your such a lucky girl to have an Aunt like her. Plus I love her shoes.
I hope Aunt Jean is enjoying her iPad. I’m writing this on mine right now, so I can attest to how much better the format is than a little phone screen for eyes (and fingers) of a certain age. Not 100, but you know what I mean.
Aaaw, bless her! All to match, even her purse! Were your feet killing you Karen?!! Enjoy those shoes while you can.
Love your dress and love your Aunt Jean! My dad was born in 1914 also and his goal was to live to 100…he made it to 95 and still had his sense of humor, too. I hope she got her ipad!!
I just love her!!
She proves true what we hear many times over, that a good sense of humour and a positive attitude help you live longer. Love her gumption!
“It’s only money.” Good advice!
What a beautiful and classy lady.
BEAUTIFUL!
Aunt Jean is a gem. I like how you asked her 5 questions now instead of when it was too late. Thats always something that bugs me that I did not do when I had the chance. We should all do that and take a cue from you.
How lovely!! What a pair of gorgeous women – you both radiate such vitality! Thank you for letting us meet Aunt Jean. I too hope she got her iPad.
I’m so glad we got some more of Aunt Jean! I love her already! So interesting!
I hope she got her iPad, but where can we get an Aunt Jean?
Get Aunt Jean an Ipad for pity sakes!!!! I love her attitude!
🙂
Love it. I had to google Vancouver to Oshawa–that’s an unbelievable amount of distance–especially for way back then (before airplanes). What made her family uproot so far away?
My Grandma will be 102 this month. I’ll bet they would have a lot to talk about!
awesome…I miss all my older folks
did she get her iPad?
Love her!!
Love the questions and especially your aunt’s responses. Did she go the Warplane Heritage Museum to see the Lancaster take off for Britain–a day late–2 weeks ago?
I like that she listed two things for the one beauty product. That’s what I want to do — live long enough to make up my own damn rules! Rock on, Auntie Jean! PS. Love her name 😉
I think all the comments have already been said. Aunt Jean in a stunning woman, on the outside and the inside. You are too, Karen. It all makes sense now, your genes are a blessing. Statistics and ages and numbers and scales, and weights and measurements. We spend our whole lives worrying all about these things, when none of that really matters- because even seeing the picture of you and Aunt Jean made me realize a happy outlook can change the world. So be happy, stay happy, and to many happy more.
Thanks Dagmar. From both of us! ~ karen
Your Aunt Jean sounds like a fantastic person! There was a lovely old guy, “Dusty”,who lived across the street from me in (Oshawa) who was in Lancasters during WW2. Who knows, perhaps his path once crossed with Aunt Jean’s late husband.
-Karen
PS: I really should edit before I hit “post”. Sheesh.
That’s interesting about her husband in the Lancaster. There’s only two of them left flying in the world today (17 total in existence out of an original 7000+). One is flying in the UK and one here at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at the Hamilton airport. My grandfather managed the rebuilding of that one back in the 80s.
I was going to mention that but you and Jody (above) beat me to it! I love it when the Lanc flies over my house . . . the “music of the Merlins” (engines) is unmistakable! My dad was an RAF pilot who flew a Mosquito in WWII and was stationed for a while at Mt Hope airbase. He left us just 2 weeks ago today at 93. My best, Karen to you and your Aunt Jean . . . she’s a treasure.
LOL! I would have enjoyed ’20 questions with Aunt Jean’ even more…. or even 100 (1 for each year of life). She seems to be a positively delightful person. 🙂
Now, now, now, Karen… you need to get Aunt Jean an iPad, pronto! You heard her… it’s only money. 😀
Aunt Jean sounds like an awesome lady!
Someone please get Aunt Jean her iPad! Wonderful interview and a great photo!
What a doll!
I think Aunt Jean is living proof that a good attitude is one of the keys to longevity. That, a good sense of humor and not giving a crap about the opinions of others.
Wow. I’m gonna live to be really old. Good to know there’s no rush to run out get wrinkle cream, tho.
Can anyone else see the resemblance? Like two peas in a pod. I’m amazed that she never remarried…50 years is a long time. Her husband was the love of her life maybe? Any children? Love your Aunt Jean – everybody should have one. I had an Aunt who I adored. Aunt Jean reminds me so much of my grandma – same bling, same sense of humor, same joie de vivre. I miss her.
She deserves an IPAD…hope you have many more.
What a treasure…and a snappy dresser!
What a treat — and a privilege! Thank you, Karen.
I hope someone got Auntie Jean her IPad! Maybe she will start a blog of her own!
We all need to have her sense of fun!
What a treat!
What a lovely picture of you both! Not many of us will get to celebrate our 100th. You are so lucky to have such longevity in your family. Aunt Jean will love her new iPad for sure.
That is a wonderful picture Karen..you should have it put on canvas..what pretty ladies..from what I know of you I’d say that Aunt Jean got her IPad..she is so amazing..please give her a hug for me..
Your aunt has truly been Blessed. You should ask her what she thinks is the key to a long life. It would be interesting to hear what she had to say. Interview her as often as you can, Karen. She is great!!
Beautiful women must run in your family!
THANK YOU!!!Aunt Jean and Karen – this litle interview just gave me such a boost! – heres to a 101!
Someone please buy that woman an IPad! Karen, I think you are her! Funny, prob outspoken, not afraid of new things. How many people at 100 years want an IPad-you would! And a woman to boot-they were not too progressive a 100 years ago! What a treasure!
I want more from Aunt Jean–she looks fab!!
Awesome woman and dressed to kill. You go Auntie Jean. Love your dress as well Karen.
Aunt Jean sounds like a hoot – you’re obviously related. Plus, I also moved to Oshawa as a child – it’s the cradle of awesomeness, amirite?? Seriously though, great post. You (and Aunt Jean) are loved here in Gainesville, Florida!
Laugh on!!! That’s probably how she got to 100, enjoying life and laughing; the BEST medicine!!! Loved this post ( You clean up good, too))!!
Hysterical that she started using wrinkle cream 1 to 2 years ago! I’m thinking she is good to go at this point.
What a grand lady!
It is amazing to know someone who turns 100 years old, let alone a family member. My grandmother turned 100 this past June. She still does cross word puzzles, lives alone (has check up visits and her son stays with her 3 days a week) and has outlived all her ex-husbands and one of her three children. It looks like 100 is the new……….70? 80?
we can all take a leaf from aunt Jeans book..live life!
Happy century!!!!!
You look fabulous!!!!!
Thank you for sharing this great woman with us. I can only hope to live that long, be that gorgeous, and be so sharp.
What a woman!
Apple should give her an iPad and get a photo!
I think she’s very like you Karen, made of good, strong stuff. Aunt Jean is a legend (as are you)!
I think that’s a great idea! Now … to get ahold of Apple … ~ karen!
LOVE.THIS!
She’s great and that picture should sit on your shelf. What a wonderful memory.
Am I the only one that thinks it’s funny she was hanging with the construction workers? She is just too precious. Love her to bits.
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Your Great Aunt is quite simply stunning on the inside and the out. Love this post.
This is a great little interview! 100 years old! That’s amazing, and it seems she still has got a long way to go!
New life goal: to live to 100 and be as sharp and awesome at Aunt Jean.
Could you add an icon we could click on and donate money to buy her an ipad ?
I hope she got the iPad.
Or at least a ride to the Apple Store.
Huh? Karen, did this sneak past you?
LOL. Yes it did. Thanks for alerting me! ~ karen
Happy Birthday “Aunt Jean” I hope you get your I pad. You should go to the Apple Store you will love it. You look fantastic, (for any age) and very stylish too. Hope you had a fantastic day not just on the day, but every day. <3
Behind in reading my mail. This was a wonderful post. Life in five questions. Thank you.
Your Aunt Jean sounds like someone I would love to know. I have worked with older people most of my career and just love them. They have so much wisdom to share if we will just slow down and listen to them. I just found your site a few days ago and you sound like some one I would love to be friends with.Your hilarious and absolutely fearless. I read your post about the self leveling compound and that’s stuff I’m gonna have to do.You made me not quite so nervous about it.I’ve got one question though.Is your house a pier and beam construction or does it have a concrete foundation. I’ve not been able to find out from what I’ve read anywhere else whether it can be used on a house that is a pier and beam construction or not. Sorry for the long post.
I stopped by to check on Cuddles (yay, she’s eating!) and I found this post too. Made my day. Lord, please let me have some of Aunt Jeans’s awesomeness when I’m that age. And now too! Blessings.
My grandma lived into her nineties and I visited her every Saturday. Her stories were often repeats, but I loved hearing her voice and even if I’d heard the memory more than once, I loved hearing it again. She lived an amazing life.
I would love to hear more conversations with your great aunt. A glimpse into another life that spanned a time way before my own and was lived entirely differently from my own is an amazing thing.