Elliot Lake resident Louisa Taylor was showered with birthday wishes and gifts by family and friends as they celebrated Taylor joining the century club at her 100th birthday Thursday.
The birthday girl sat outside in the sunshine at the comfortable Esten Drive South home she shares with her son Stuart. At a 100-years-old, she is a healthy and active senior who moved to Elliot Lake three years ago.
She attributes her good health to keeping busy and confided she enjoys a small drink of rye in the evenings.
“I must have been good somewhere,” she said with a laugh when asked about how she managed to reach 100. “I don’t just sit around, I keep busy.”
Born in Britain, Taylor will also be receiving a certificate from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the Governor General of Canada marking the occasion.
Friends from the Elliot Lake sewing club, which met weekly at the Anglican church before the pandemic paraded to her home in cars before stopping to visit with her on the front yard and wishing her a Happy Birthday.
After moving to Elliot Lake, she joined the sewing club with members sewing, knitting or crocheting.
“If you don’t want to do anything we just sit there and talk,” she said.
Club members stay in touch with her over the phone “now and then,” because of the social distancing restrictions.
She said she was made aware of Elliot Lake during trips from Burlington to visit her granddaughter Jennifer Belland and family in the Sudbury area who calls her “my gypsy grandmother,” for her frequent trips up north.
Planning for the birthday started late last year with relatives wanting to come from England to join in and a celebration at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington Those plans had to be scrapped due to COVID-19.
“Her mother lived until she was 96 so that was her goal to beat her mother,” Belland said with a smile.
Taylor also received greetings from motorists who honked their horns as they drove past the home and the large 100 signage. Family and friends gathered and sang Happy Birthday to her.
The Taylor family has five generations born to her and her husband Jim who passed away 29 years ago. The couple moved to Canada in the 50s and lived in Burlington prior to her moving to Elliot Lake with her youngest son.