GREENFIELD — Bernice Ambo sat, a brilliant smile on her face and a white sash around her shoulders, as her family, friends and caregivers gathered at GVNA Healthcare Inc. to celebrate her 100th birthday with her.
Her three daughters in attendance remembered the woman they’ve called “Mom” for decades teaching them to be independent.
“That was one of the best lessons she ever taught us,” oldest daughter Karen Ambo said.
Bernice started her special day — she was born Sept. 4, 1919 — with an exercise class, followed by the celebration, which included a sheet cake and special monogrammed paper napkins. Mayor William Martin showed up with a certificate to honor one of Greenfield’s oldest residents.
She chose a potluck lunch, so people brought dishes to share, along with stories about her.
“She told us a story once about getting in a fight with a boy on a corner in downtown Turners Falls where she grew up,” Karen Ambo said. “She was a tough one, a hellion. She told me once, ‘If you can’t avoid a fight, don’t just pull hair, end it.’”
While Bernice — “Bernie” everyone calls her — had a difficult time communicating, she had no problem showing her elation with smiles and a “whoo-hoo” now and then.
Her youngest daughter, Bernice “Bunny” McDonough, of Turners Falls, said her stay-at-home mother of three daughters and one son, who couldn’t make the party, was always nurturing, but tough. Middle sister, Theresa Whiteman, of Greenfield, who lives with Karen Ambo and her mother, said she was quite artistic in her younger years.
“She knitted, crocheted, tatted and loved to doodle,” she said. “The best thing was that she’d let us explore and run through puddles when we were kids.”
Married for more than 50 years, Bernice Ambo’s husband died in 1996. She spends three days a week in adult day care, where she exercises, plays trivia and loves to visit with therapy dogs, Gus and J Lo.
GVNA Activities Director Julie Clark said Bernice is delightful. She said she always interacts with other clients, loves music and loves to watch line dancing.
“She’s been with us a few years now,” Clark said. “She’s the oldest in our program, but you can tell that she’s got some spunk left in her.”
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-0261, ext. 269 or afritz@recorder.com.