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.
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!
THANK YOU!!!Aunt Jean and Karen – this litle interview just gave me such a boost! – heres to a 101!
Beautiful women must run in your family!
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!!
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..
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.
We all need to have her sense of fun!
What a treat!
I hope someone got Auntie Jean her IPad! Maybe she will start a blog of her own!
What a treat — and a privilege! Thank you, Karen.
What a treasure…and a snappy dresser!
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.
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.
What a doll!
Someone please get Aunt Jean her iPad! Wonderful interview and a great photo!
Aunt Jean sounds like an awesome lady!
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. :D
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.
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.
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
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 ;-)
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?
Love her!!
awesome…I miss all my older folks
did she get her iPad?
My Grandma will be 102 this month. I’ll bet they would have a lot to talk about!
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?
:)
Get Aunt Jean an Ipad for pity sakes!!!! I love her attitude!
I hope she got her iPad, but where can we get an Aunt Jean?
I’m so glad we got some more of Aunt Jean! I love her already! So interesting!
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.
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.
BEAUTIFUL!
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.
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!!
Aaaw, bless her! All to match, even her purse! Were your feet killing you Karen?!! Enjoy those shoes while you can.
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.
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.
Please tell me that aunt Jean got an iPad for her birthday.
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!
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.
Love this! It really brightened up my day :)
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!?
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.
1914 was a very good year!
Love you Aunt Jean! You ROCK!
Love your aunt!!!!
Wow, she looks fantastic for 100!! And I love that she started using wrinkle cream at 98 years old!
Awesome.
Rock on Aunt Jean!
AWESOME, Karen.
Oh my! Two beautiful women! Karen I LOVE your dress!!!
Thanks Marilyn. I actually got it in Thailand! ~ karen