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Marques celebrates milestone birthday with 111 gifts

Mary Marques
By Danielle Paine

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW - At 111 years old, Mary Marques still walks with a spring in her step and still smiles with a twinkle in her eye.

For her recent milestone birthday party, Marques celebrated with five generations of family as the staff of the Julian J. Leavitt Family Jewish Nursing Home presented her with 111 gifts.

"We have enough to bring a few out each week so she can open presents all year long," her grandson, Robert Denehy said.

"I got so many things," Marques added, bubbling with laughter. "So many."

When asked what the most important thing she has accomplished in her lifetime was, Marques thought for a moment before replying, "My family and my friends and I'm a nice person. I've never been mean to anyone."

Denehy attributes her long life to this same attitude.

"She never gets upset about things," Denehy said. "She's got this low-key approach to life with no big goals to strive for, no big expectations and she doesn't hassle anyone."

Overall, her life has been a simple one. She has lived for simple pleasures like gardening, spending time with her family and cooking. Though she no longer weeds gardens or slaves over a hot stove, she has always liked watching television and crocheting, both which she still does daily.

"She still pumps out the afghans," Denehy said with a smile. "Everyone's got six or seven of them."

In 1896, Marques was born in Portugal to a family who herded sheep and goats. As she grew up, Marques worked herding while her brothers went to school. Later, she and her two young daughters joined her husband in America in 1934.

Once here, she moved to Holyoke where she worked making hats and gloves until she retired after 30 years in 1965.

"I learned to do everything because I worked there too long," she said. "My boss didn't want me to retire."

After retirement, Marques helped to rear her young grandchildren who now take care of her, she explained with laughter.

Denehy recalled he and his grandmother learning things together when he was a young child. Having never gone to school, Marques is illiterate. But Denehy recalls teaching her how to sign her name when he was five years old and she was 60. They would also learn numbers and the letters of the alphabet together.

This story still makes Marques laugh, though her lack of education seemed of little importance to her. What is important to Marques is a large and loving family now comprised of her two daughters, five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and 12 great great grandchildren, so far.

Her health has also always been very good, with the exception of small pox as a child. She has never smoked, only drank in moderation and keeps her mind sharp with a natural curiosity and love of chatting.

"I still don't know how I lived this long," Marques said. "A lot of people ask me but I have no secret."

"I think part of it is to stay like a little kid to whatever degree you can," Denehy said.