 Home | Recent News | Home | Female Centenarian Quintet 01 Jul 2006 Female Quintet Celebrated Centenarian StatusThey were born the same year as Agnes DeMille, Ayn Rand, Lillian Hellman, Greta Garbo, and Maggie Kuhn in 1905, or Margaret Bourke-White and Josephine Baker in 1906. They have lived through 19 U.S. presidents, two World Wars and other world conflicts, and they’ve endured the economy’s ups and downs, including the Great Depression. They are five women who this year celebrate their 100th or 101st birthdays. Though there are an estimated 70,000 centenarians in the country, it is unusual to find five of them in one place at one time. But that’s the case at Presbyterian Manor of Rolla where Gladys Stuart, Viola Semas, Mildred Leaver, Mildred Harris, and Grace Wolfson were honored July 21 at a reception. Community members and political leaders attended the celebration. In the 16 other Presbyterian Manor communities, located in Kansas and Missouri, a total of six other centenarians, in six separate locations, who have or will celebrate 100th birthdays or greater this year, further highlight the uniqueness of the Rolla group. Though their memories are not as clear now, their lives are a testament to what former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt must have meant when she said, ”As for accomplishments, I just did what I had to do as things came along.” Today, women live longer than men. Consider, however, that by the end of the century life expectancy for men was 74 and 79 for women. These seniors have bested that expectancy by over two decades. All outlived their spouses, which is not uncommon. Significant for their time, they were all “working women” and had careers outside the home, perhaps a factor in their longevity. To mark the special occasion, the quintet was asked to share their experiences and tips in reaching a combined 500 years of living. The ladies offered the following “top 10” lessons learned as tips for how others might live a long, enjoyable life:  |  | | Manor residents gather to celebrate their 100th birthdays. From left, seated, Gladys Stuart, Vi Semas and Mildred Harris. From left, standing, Grace Wolfson and Mildred Leaver. |
Lesson 1: “Don?t drink coffee or soda; they’re bad for your health.” -- Mildred Harris Lesson 2: “Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.” --Gladys Stuart Lesson 3: “Walk everywhere.” --Mildred Harris, Gladys Stuart Lesson 4: “Work hard; it makes you stronger.” -- Viola Semas Lesson 5: “Take life easy, and don’t stress over things.” -- Grace Wolfson Lesson 6: “Go outside, and get some fresh air.” -- Gladys Stuart Lesson 7: “Drink lots of water.” --Mildred Harris Lesson 8: “If you never take a stand, you’ll always be wrong. If you take a stand, you may be wrong sometimes, but you can also be right sometimes.” --Mildred Leaver Lesson 9: “Be yourself and fulfill your dreams.” --Viola Semas Lesson 10: “Aging is all about attitude, not about number of years.” --Mildred Leaver “It is such a privilege to be in the same room with five people over 100 years of age--much less to have them residing in our retirement community,” said Anita Carroll, executive director of the Rolla manor. “We are so excited to be able to share this celebration and honor our centenarians at this time in their lives.” To learn about each centenarian click on the links below. Gladys Stuart Viola Semas Mildred Leaver Mildred Harris Grace Wolfson
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