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Lombard, IL —
Warmth and smiles filled the room as family and friends joined to celebrate Amelia Abbate’s 100th birthday last week at the Lexington Health Care Center of Lombard.
The event was a milestone to say the least — Amelia is one of a small percentage of centenarians who have been fortunate enough to a live long, healthy life.
When asked about what she attributes her longevity to, Abbate says, “I guess the man upstairs decided.” She said she never felt the years add on.
For Abbate’s July 4 birthday, her daughter, Barbara Bartt, said a large family party was thrown in her honor, with about 75 guests joining in on the fun.
Abbate’s second daughter, Darlene Bartt, said it was amazing to bring the entire family together.
“(Amelia), her brother and her sister had not seen each other in a couple of years,” Darlene Bartt said.
Abbate enjoyed celebrating with family and friends at Lexington Health Care Center, as she was serenaded by the band The 45’s and was read two letters celebrating her milestone. One letter was from President Obama and the First Lady, and the other was from the village of Lombard, both celebrating her age and congratulating her for all she has lived through.
Abbate gave a speech, thanking everyone at the Lexington Health Care Center.
“No one could ask for better friends,” she said.
Abbate explained that she gets to see her two daughters, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren often. Children of this generation are different from those of her time.
“I’m surprised about the things they know and (what) they can do,” she said. “They are very ahead of everything.”
In addition, she said kids these days are much smarter than those in past generations, and changes in technology are the best.
And which inventions does she think are the most important she has witnessed in her 100 years? The radio and TV.
When reflecting on her own childhood, Abbate recalls sitting around the living room listening to stories on the radio and making music by manually pumping the player piano with her feet. She even remembers the freedom people had of getting in the car and just driving around, as obtaining a driver’s license was much less complex and only cost 50 cents.
Growing up, Abbate had a passion for singing and exercising, and continued to exercise three times a week until the age of 96. She was even asked by Ted Weems to be the singer of his band at just 18 years old, she said.
Warmth and smiles filled the room as family and friends joined to celebrate Amelia Abbate’s 100th birthday last week at the Lexington Health Care Center of Lombard.
The event was a milestone to say the least — Amelia is one of a small percentage of centenarians who have been fortunate enough to a live long, healthy life.
When asked about what she attributes her longevity to, Abbate says, “I guess the man upstairs decided.” She said she never felt the years add on.
For Abbate’s July 4 birthday, her daughter, Barbara Bartt, said a large family party was thrown in her honor, with about 75 guests joining in on the fun.
Abbate’s second daughter, Darlene Bartt, said it was amazing to bring the entire family together.
“(Amelia), her brother and her sister had not seen each other in a couple of years,” Darlene Bartt said.
Abbate enjoyed celebrating with family and friends at Lexington Health Care Center, as she was serenaded by the band The 45’s and was read two letters celebrating her milestone. One letter was from President Obama and the First Lady, and the other was from the village of Lombard, both celebrating her age and congratulating her for all she has lived through.
Abbate gave a speech, thanking everyone at the Lexington Health Care Center.
“No one could ask for better friends,” she said.
Abbate explained that she gets to see her two daughters, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren often. Children of this generation are different from those of her time.
“I’m surprised about the things they know and (what) they can do,” she said. “They are very ahead of everything.”
In addition, she said kids these days are much smarter than those in past generations, and changes in technology are the best.
And which inventions does she think are the most important she has witnessed in her 100 years? The radio and TV.
When reflecting on her own childhood, Abbate recalls sitting around the living room listening to stories on the radio and making music by manually pumping the player piano with her feet. She even remembers the freedom people had of getting in the car and just driving around, as obtaining a driver’s license was much less complex and only cost 50 cents.
Growing up, Abbate had a passion for singing and exercising, and continued to exercise three times a week until the age of 96. She was even asked by Ted Weems to be the singer of his band at just 18 years old, she said.
This did not meet her mother’s approval, so Abbate had to turn down the offer.
Abbate has seen many historic events in her lifetime, including Pearl Harbor. She said she remembers suddenly hearing the devastating news come through the radio on that traumatic Sunday. Not knowing what to do, she said, she ran outside and cried.
Upon hearing this story, Barbara Bartt remembered how she and her mother went outside waving little flags on Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) in 1945.
Abbate also is a survivor of the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic and recollects coming out of a two-week coma. She said she was in Boston at the time the influenza struck.
Abbate, born at her Chicago home at 24th and Wentworth streets, moved to the Lombard area in 1978 — the year she became widowed to her 43-year-long marriage. She has resided at the Lexington Health Care Center of Lombard for the past four years.
Administrator Quinn Corcoran said Abbate has been active in all the programs at Lexington.
Abbate added that she looks forward to enjoying her next 100 years.
