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Painting, reading, singing are joys. One marks 75 years as nun
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Jul 26, 2009
Just read an article last week that said, ''It's starting to get crowded in the 100-year-old club.
''The world's population of centenarians is projected to reach nearly 6 million by midcentury.''
So, word to the wise: We'd better start taking care of ourselves like the folks being profiled here today.
Workaholic at 102
Friends of Joseph ''Joe'' Koch are like him — workaholics.
So much so, in fact, that they failed to let the media know that the Wadsworth man had turned 102 back in April.
''Yes, I'm a workaholic,'' Mr. Koch (pronounced Coe) proudly declared last week.
''I'm legally blind [due to macular degeneration] but I still paint. I'm a landscape painter.
And, believe it or not, I managed to make a living at it. I'm known for my paintings of the Outer Banks. . . .
''Like I said, I've always been a very busy man. Doing my paintings. Then I would sell them. I'm well distributed, too. I have paintings in South America, Australia and even Siberia. . . . Never had a middleman in my history.''
Quite the talker, Mr. Koch said he knew from the time he was 6 years old that he wanted to be a painter.
''We had this itinerant artist come to school when I was in the first grade,'' said Mr. Koch, a resident at Wadsworth Pointe, a skilled nursing facility in Wadsworth.
''He drew a billy goat on the blackboard. And, well, that was it. . . . I went home for lunch that day and told my mom I was going to be a painter. She said, 'That's nice.' I just never gave up on my dream.''
Mr. Koch was born April 12, 1907, in Glen Line, Pa., one of eight children. ''I'm the last one left,'' he said. ''The rest died in their 80s.
''I'm the healthiest guy in this building and the oldest, too.
''I've never had a weight problem. But I don't overeat, either . . . I used to weigh myself every morning. When I would get to be 165, I would back off. And you know what? I've never been over 165. Right now I'm at 155.''
Mr. Koch — widowed 20 years ago when his beloved wife Esther died — still maintains his quirky sense of humor.
Asked how he spends his time when he's not painting, he had this to say: ''Since I can't drive and confined to my apartment, I find myself spending most of my time thinking and sleeping.''
102nd birthday party
All of her adult life, Georgia Carter cooked for others.
In fact, that's how the Akron woman earned her living. She was a personal cook for many years for a prominent physician's family.
She was self-taught, didn't use recipes. And her clients were always satisfied.
Mrs. Carter has long since put away her apron. In fact, she's been a resident at the Arbors of Fairlawn, a skilled nursing facility, and now has others cooking for her.
The former Georgia Carroll — born July 22, 1907, in Ramer, Ala. — moved with her family to Akron in 1944.
She and her late husband Emmanuel Carter had no children.
Mrs. Carter was a longtime member of Akron's United Baptist Church, where she was on the Usher Board. ''At one point she was president of the Usher Board,'' said Joan Shaw, the Arbors' life enrichment director.
''She's an amazing one. She still walks with a walker. She loves to read and she likes to sing.'' Mostly gospel music. And who could blame her if she, from time to time, hummed a few bars of Georgia on My Mind?
Mrs. Carter was feted with a birthday party at the nursing home. Guests included family friends and her nursing home family.
2 major milestones
Sister Mary Elizabeth Noel is marking not one but two major milestones in her life this year.
Fellow Dominican nun Sister Theresa Damicone said Sister Noel celebrated 75 years of religious life on May 3 and her 100th birthday Tuesday.
Three parties were planned to toast the historic birthday: two earlier in the week at Regina Health Center in Richfield, where she is a resident, and one on Saturday at Our Lady of the Elms Convent in Akron.
''Sister Mary E, as she is known, is one of eight children of Andrew and Elizabeth Noel,'' Sister Theresa noted. ''She entered the Sisters of Dominic of Akron from St. Jerome Parish, Cleveland. Most of her teaching career has been at the high school level, where she taught English, religion and music at St. Vincent and Our Lady of Elms high schools for a combined total of 32 years. She also taught at Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown, for 14 years, where she was chair of the English Department for four years. . . .
''For a number of years she volunteered teaching pupils at an inner-city public school in the area.
''Sister Mary E was very active in justice and peace activities and was a member of the Akron Catholic Commission, a Cleveland diocesan justice organization. Being a 'people person,' Sister Mary E is always ready to welcome visitors with a smile and a big hug.''
For health reasons, she was moved in December 2007 to the health center.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Just read an article last week that said, ''It's starting to get crowded in the 100-year-old club.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 10:18 AM, 07/26/2009
Not if Obama and the extreme liberal Dem's outrageously expensive and selective health care reform bill passes. It will lower the life expectancy numbers back where they were at the turn of the century, 50 years at most. In their so called "health care reform" bill anyone over 50 will potentially be denied life saving or improving health services. Great way for the liberal Dems and Obama's Science Czar, John Holdren to control the country's population. Mmmmm!
columbus, oh
Posted 10:40 AM, 07/26/2009
In this day and time it nice to see the age of 100. These people are blessed in more way then one. Happy birthday to you all.
UTOPIA, OH
Posted 11:35 AM, 07/26/2009
I will consider myself blessed if I don't get so old & decrepit that I can't drive, see or walk. What's so great about that? The elderly are a HUGE financial burden to society & their families. The only benefit to living so long is that it makes doctors rich.
North Hill, OH
Posted 01:42 PM, 07/26/2009
One sincere comment, one jerk who uses a human interest story to attempt to pass some political agenda, and one fool who is so insensitive they shouldn't be allowed out in public. Par for the course, Ohio.com
This is a great story, and I'm sure could've been pages longer with the experiences of these people. Happy birthday!
Tepplin, DC
Posted 02:08 PM, 07/26/2009
Agreed, RowdyZ.
holdyourhorses, STFU. Not every story is or has to be a liberal (or conservative) conspiracy.
AKRON, OH
Posted 09:23 PM, 07/26/2009
My grandfather lived to be 106.1885-1991.In good health. At the hospital for his yearly check up. Ate his lunch said I'm ready to go home.Went to sleep.His sister 104, My grandmother on my father side 104.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:54 AM, 07/27/2009
Great story.
I am not a fan of Obama or Washington in general but there was NO reason to pass on political opinions about this story. Ridiculous.
My grandparents lived to be 98 and 102 respectively and were married for 79 years before my grandmother passed. Just listening to their stories and any stories that Centenarians can tell is a history lesson of personal memories in itself.
Canton, OH
Posted 09:46 AM, 07/27/2009
great story -
my grandparents are 93 and 94 and still play bridge a couple times a week, exercise, drive (short distances and not at night), my grandma still makes the best scones in the world. She is fairly good with the computer and loves learning new things. I hope someone does a story on them when they are 100 or over!
and the best gift to give them - time - sit down and ask them about things - what things were like when they were growing up, etc.
