CareOne Resident Celebrates 100th Birthday

It's not every day you get to celebrate a centennial. But, that's exactly what happened this week when Gertrude Barry, a resident of , celebrated her 100th birthday among family and friends.

Barry, a resident of CareOne at Madison Avenue in Morristown, celebrated her 100th birthday on Thursday, Nov. 3. An afternoon celebration was planned by her family and the recreation staff to mark this momentous occasion. Everyone gathered in the living room decorated with balloons saying “Celebrate 100” and flowers from Gertrude’s family. On display was the official birthday greeting sent to Gertrude from the White House.

To get the festivities started, the wife of one of the residents, Grace Wamsteker, presented Gertrude with a prayer shawl and recited a poem to go with it. In attendance were various members of Gertrude’s family and friends from through the years including her niece Elaine Lindo and her husband Neil, her nephew Robert Mangierie and his wife Haashim and her grand-niece Gail Thomas. Many of Gertrude’s friends came to help celebrate including Maddie Michaelski, Bridie Murphy and Mary Bucksar.

One friend, Carol Scullin, who used to deliver Meals-on-Wheels to Gertrude while she was still living at home in Morristown, arranged a surprise for Gertrude: a barbershop quartet, The Four Old Parts, to serenade Gertrude and her guests. Terry Scullin, Dave Mittlestadt, Ken Hoffman and Dick Floersheimer entertained the crowd with “Ashanty in Old Shanty Town,” “Zippedy-Doo-Dah” and “Hoboken.” A sheet cake was then served to everyone.

Gertrude joins a prestigious group of residents at CareOne at Madison Avenue to reach 100 years and beyond. Rose Ryan is 100 years, Emilio Gervasio is 101 years and Alice Benning is 105.