Pearl Degray, Westfield’s oldest resident, celebrated her 103rd birthday on March 12.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
WESTFIELD — Pearl Degray, Westfield’s oldest resident, celebrated her 103rd birthday on March 12 and told Reminder Publishing her secret to the long life she’s living.
“Hard work,” Degray said bluntly. “I never sat around. If you see my apartment or my room right now, it’s as neat as a pin. As old as I am, I’m fully dressed. I don’t lay around all day. I eat a good breakfast. I like my sweets, but I also like my fruit. I’m a nondrinker. I smoked for years, we all smoked. But it got so expensive and everything I couldn’t afford cigarettes, so I finally quit. I said I can’t afford that.”
At 103, Degray still very much has a sense of humor and an energy that would surprise most for someone of her age. After just a few minutes of discussion though, Degray’s personality and energy makes total sense as to how she has remained active in various ways daily — as confirmed by staff with her at Westfield Vantage Health. Her attitude and approach to life has kept her happy and healthy now multiple years past 100 years old.
Degray found out she was the city’s oldest living resident when Vantage Health, the facility where she currently lives, received a phone call from City Hall, which wanted to notify the facility and Degray of the milestone.
“The only reason why we know is because the town called us to tell us that. We didn’t know,” said Vantage Health Director of Activities Lisa Parent.
Born in 1922, Degray has been a Westfield resident for the vast majority of her life and is one of six siblings. A mother of two and a grandparent to two more, Degray spoke a lot about life memories from the past century and how she was often a strong and independent woman throughout eras where it was more difficult to do so.
Degray graduated high school in 1940 before eventually getting married to her first husband and beginning work at the Springfield Armory where she said she helped make guns. She joked she can’t remember even cooking a meal for her first husband and their marriage did not last.
Degray took up a variety of warehouse jobs throughout her young adult life before eventually meeting her next husband. This marriage also did not ultimately work out as Pearl said they had their differences.
“I threw him out,” Pearl said with a laugh. “So, I ended up being by myself, but I had a lovely apartment here in Westfield and my two kids.”
Eventually she began traveling more and more, becoming one of her favorite activities in life. She was happy to share some of her travel highlights which include trips to both Disney theme parks, Wrigley Field in Chicago, and to Hawaii. She added on the trip to Hawaii she fell in love with helicopters as she was able to take one of the tours around the islands.
“We flew all around,” Degray said smiling about her memories soaring over the islands.
Staff at Vantage also mentioned Degray’s passion for tap dancing, adding she even still has danced as recently as last year at age 102.
Degray mentioned she has always loved dance and roller skating, and reminisced on many Saturday evenings gatherings for both activities.
Vantage Health hosted its March birthday’s event on March 7 where Degray was once again recognized for living another year around the sun, along with her fellow March birthday residents. Parent added she has sent a letter to the White House seeking another form of recognition for the milestone of Degray’s birthday as she received a letter from Pennsylvania Ave for her 100th birthday. She also sent Degray’s information into “The Today Show” in hopes of more recognition for her milestone age during their Smucker’s birthdays segment.
The milestone 103rd birthday is another year around the sun for Degray and her living to this age serves as a good reminder that life is unpredictable but can be full of great experiences.
“That’s my story and I’m sticking to it,” Degray joked.
