CORNWALL, Ontario – Kathleen Baker celebrated her 105th birthday on Tuesday, Aug. 14 with family members and friends from her retirement residence, Chartwell Chateau Cornwall.
“I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed,” said Baker.
Baker said she usually feels 105, but there are good days and bad days. She doesn’t know where the last 105 years went.
“Yes, I’ve been here a long, long time,” said Baker in a speech to her peers. “I’ve had some wonderful years. Made some good, good friends. Some of whom are here today to see me, which is heartbreaking really. Thank you for everything. I want to thank Sharon and her coworkers for planning this delightful afternoon.”
According to Sharon Curotte, Lifestyle and Program Manager at Chateau Cornwall, Baker was so excited for her birthday event. She had prepared three possible outfits to wear and postponed lunch plans with her family to be with her peers.
Baker spent a majority of her life in Gaspé and Malartic, QC before moving to Mississauga, ON. In her later years, she decided to move to Cornwall as one of her sons resides in Bainsville.
“She’s so smart…she’s an amazing lady,” said Curotte. “She’s so appreciative of things. When she turned 100 we wanted to redo her room and give her a brand new suite. But she didn’t want it. She likes familiarity.”
Jim McDonell and Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy made an appearance at the party. Baker also received a letter from the Governer General of Canada
“People like Kay make mine and everyone else’s life here so much more enriched,” said Curotte. “She’s a beautiful lady inside and out. I think she’s the reason we do the jobs that we do. It’s just a pleasure working with them.”
