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Celebrating life in the 90s

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Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

Mary Popeck, who will turn 99 March 20th celebrates with others in their 90s at Canonsburg Senior Center.

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Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

Jenny Raspet celebrates with others in their 90s at a nonagenarian party at Canonsburg Senior Center.

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Nina Chrenko, 97, celebrates with others in their 90’s at the Canonsburg Senior Center

CANONSBURG – Tiaras rested on the heads of eight women, top hats atop the pates of three men.

It was party time at Canonsburg Senior Center, and the invited guests were being treated like royalty.

“Personally, I’m not a party girl, but I like this,” Mary Popeck said, flashing her perpetual smile.

On a chilly Thursday afternoon in January, 11 area residents 90 and older received a warm celebration while warming the hearts of others at a nonagenarian party. “This is the first time we’ve done this in the five years I’ve been here,” said Brenda Wacker, coordinator of the center along East Pike Street. There will be more roaring-good times for those from the Roaring Twenties – and beyond.

Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

The Canonsburg Senior Center nonagenarians are standing, from left, Joe Kubas, Jack Eckenrode, George Pihiou, middle row, Dorothy Martin, Fran Toth, Haifa Sibert, Mary Popeck, Nina Cherenko, front row, Jenny Respet, Effie Telesko and Sylvia Shaw.

Wacker said 22 nonagenarians were invited and half of them showed. They had lunch, talked, reminisced and enjoyed live music, many accompanied by relatives, friends or aides. At least one guest danced to the pleasant sounds of John Bigler.

“These people who are in their 90s have stayed active,” said Mary Lynn Spilak, director of aging services in Washington County.

Popeck, who bowled until she was 96, was the kingpin, so to speak, age-wise. She was born in 1919, four months after World War I ended, and will turn 99 in March. Sylvia Shaw, a spry 98, is three months younger.

Phyllis Evanoka of Canonsburg, Popeck’s daughter, spoke admirably of her mother’s industriousness to this day.

“She is constantly active. She has arthritis in her hands, but makes pierogies for her church (Sacred Heart in Canonsburg). And she makes it to church every Sunday.”

Evanoka and her sister, Carolyn Pacewicz, attended the bash with their mom, a homemaker who raised four daughters in Houston. Popeck now lives in North Strabane Township.

“She didn’t learn how to drive until she was 65. She stopped driving at 90,” Evanoka said.

Shaw was behind the wheel till she was 97, when she sold her car. “I had six kids. I was pretty busy,” said the longtime homemaker, with an easy grin.

She laughed, adding “I still teach bridge … I don’t have any pupils. But I have been truly blessed.”

Spending 35 years as a clerk in the Washington County tax assessor’s office wasn’t a taxing experience for Nina Cherenko. But she has been savoring retirement for 24 years.

“I’ve found a lot to do,” said the 97-year-old, who resides in South Strabane Township. “I gave up driving three years ago.”

Until Thursday, Jenny Z. Raspet had never been to a nonagenarian party. She is willing to go again.

“I enjoy this,” said the Meadow Lands resident, a youngster of 90.

“She dances a lot,” said Gerri DeVitis, a friend who was alongside. Raspet, who retired as a tester/inspector for RCA in Chartiers Township, said she prefers to be active. She participates in events at the Canonsburg center and Chartiers Township Community Center, where she has memberships.

Mary Popeck was not the focal point, but a focal point of the party. Her life, to an extent, was on display on the table at the front of the room. Sitting there was a thick photo album – including her birth, baptismal and wedding certificates – that Evanoka compiled recently.

“I told her the book is about you,” the daughter said. “She was surprised and excited.”

The excitement continued Thursday, for Mary and the 10 others celebrating life in the 90s.

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