ELORA – Jean Green celebrated a momentous occasion on Oct. 5 – her 100th birthday.
“Unfortunately due to Covid she will not be having a party, but we went on Facebook and asked the community to assist us,” said Sandi Nikolasevic, life enrichment co-ordinator at Heritage River Retirement Residence in Elora, where Green lives.
“Our goal was to collect 100 birthday cards for Jean. She received 202 as of today but I’m sure more will trickle in over the next few days.
“Teachers at Elora Public School and St. Mary’s School had some students send a number of letters and drawings, which certainly helped to bring the count up.”
Jean’s son, Brian Green, said his mother was “overwhelmed with all the cards. We will open a few each day, then she can read all the verses. It’s a real keepsake for her.”
Jean was born in England in 1920 and came to Canada in 1923 with her parents.
She joined the Royal Canadian Airforce as an equipment assistant in 1942 and was sent to Upland Air Base in Ottawa where she met Harold Green – the man who would become her husband.
Harold was transferred to England as a flight instructor and the couple corresponded by mail during the war.
Harold even proposed by mail.
“One day Jean got a letter which included an engagement ring with a note asking her to marry him,” Brian said in an email.
They married in 1945 and settled outside Fergus, where they raised their two boys, Brian and Bill.
Jean continues to be spry, sometimes uses a walker and is generally in good health, Brian said, although a little hard of hearing.
“She’s had a good life,” Brian said. The secret to her long life “is her strong faith in the Lord.”
He continued, “Her favourite Psalm is The Lord is My Shepherd and her favourite childhood song was Jesus Loves Me.”
