When Marion Connors was a little girl, she used to think the rest of the world was helping to celebrate her birthday when, year after year, people would raise their American flags on flagpoles and front porches every June 14. She realized years later that her birthday on June 14, 1914 shared the same date as Flag Day, giving her two reasons to celebrate, along with everyone else.
Now this Flag Day was Connors’ 100th Flag Day, which meant it was also her 100th birthday, and friends and family celebrated the milestone with Connors at her residence at Sippican Healthcare Center in Marion with some lemonade and a big Happy 100th Birthday cake.
Connor sat at the head of the table beneath a bouquet of birthday balloons in her tiara, holding a big blue daisy someone had gifted her. But when Connors’ granddaughter handed her a stuffed Dachshund, Connors’ face lit up as she hugged the dog tightly to her chest.
“Oh! That’s more like it,” said Connors with joy. “Hi, little doggie!” she said patting his head.
“She always had a Dachshund,” said granddaughter Elizabeth Hiller of Marion, adding, “I’m so happy that I can spend her 100th birthday with her. She’s an inspiration to us all.”
Connors’ only child, daughter Patricia Normand of Plymouth, said Connors was always an active woman, walking two miles every day right up until she was 90 years old.
Normand credits Connors’ longevity to her two-mile a day walks, along with her active lifestyle of riding her bicycle and playing tennis, a pastime she enjoyed often.
“That, and a glass of red wine every night,” said Normand smiling – undoubtedly the secret to longevity that many of us hope will see us to our own 100th birthday.
Connors was the youngest, with three older brothers who Normand said loved teasing Connors, but who were also fiercely protective of her.
“No boy was ever good enough,” said Normand.
Connors got married and worked in a bank in Boston in the foreign currency department for many years. Normand said, looking back at childhood, she remembers her mother as Normand’s playmate as much as her mother. The two would take trips to ride the Swan Boats in Boston, go out for lunch, shop at Filene’s Basement, and then have hot fudge sundaes together at Bailey’s.
Connors moved to Marion when she was 89 and lived near the beach closer to family.
“She loved to walk the beach and collect large conch shells,” said Normand. “She had more [shells] in her yard than at the beach.”
According to granddaughter Hiller, Connors was always celebrating. She said Connors and her husband would share a bottle of champagne practically every night.
“I think it’s remarkable,” said Normand about her mother turning 100. “Truly remarkable.”
Normand thanked those in attendance and noted that there are several other residents at Sippican Healthcare Center who are approaching their own 100th birthday, and Normand says she and Connors are looking forward to celebrating the amazing milestone with them, as well.
By Jean Perry
