Little Egg Harbor Woman Celebrates 100th Birthday

LITTLE EGG HARBOR, NJ — Verna Gilley recently celebrated her 100th birthday at the Seacrest Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Little Egg Harbor.

Gilley celebrated her new centenarian status alongside Michelle Bakhtiyarov, her great granddaughter who works as a nurse at the skilled nursing facility.

Gilley also had a 44-year career in nursing, according to the Seacrest Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center.

“It was such a delight for all of us at Seacrest to celebrate Verna’s milestone birthday along with Michelle and their family,” said activities director, Stacy Ziemba. “Verna is always an interesting person to talk with as she has amazing recall on her life experiences. We are so glad she is here at Seacrest.”

Gilley was 21 years old when she began her decades-long career as a nurse at Mountainside Hospital, which later became Morristown Memorial Hospital, working the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift.

Both her mother and mother-in-law lived nearby and helped in getting the children off to school in the mornings. At age 65, she retired from the hospital, continuing to work as a private nurse for a time.

Gilley reflects fondly on her career in nursing, offering words of wisdom suitable for all professionals, “you have to have patience and enjoy what you are doing,” she said.

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