Kincardine woman celebrates 100th birthday with family and friends

In 1919, Robert Borden was prime minister, Canada's population was eight million, no decision was made on the Stanley Cup due to a flu epidemic that killed 50,000 Canadians, the hit song was “I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles,” and the rotary telephone was invented.

Plus, Marie Keith was born in Owen Sound, Aug. 28.

Now Marie Cooper, the Kincardine woman was thrilled to celebrate her 100th birthday, Wednesday afternoon, with family and friends, at Trillium Court Seniors' Community in Kincardine.

When asked how it felt to be 100, she smiled and said, “I feel great so far.”

While she suffers some physical frailties, Marie can recount with precision and wit, events of yesterday, last month, or nearly a century ago.

When asked about her secret to longevity, she laughed and said, "Well, I guess hard work never killed anyone!"

She should know. Though an excellent student in school, she started work at age 14 when her family moved to Paisley from Owen Sound. She worked in various homes as domestic help, mainly for room and board.

It was often brutal work - pumping and carrying water, keeping the fires going in the wood stove on hot summer days for cooking and washing, scrubbing farm clothes on a washboard, scouring floors, emptying chamber pots - like one of the servants in “Downton Abbey.”

When she married Jack Cooper in 1942, they bought a farm on Concession 9, Kincardine Township. Marie was as adept at baling hay and milking cows as she was at preparing meals for a gang of threshers.

Marie and Jack were always known for their hospitality. Their home was always a happy drop-in centre for family, friends, neighbours, and strangers, and often her first question was, "Have you had supper?"

She and Jack loved music, dancing, and travelling. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and bid-euchre, but most of all, she loved her family.

Marie is the proud mother of Eldon (Brenda), Donald Carl (Betty), and Bonnie Colwell (Terry). She also has eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Happy 100th, Marie!