Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 2, 2023 ~ The Advocate Asks ~ Annette Slocomb credits “my second home” at the Saugus Senior Center as a key reason why she continues to enjoy a happy and healthy life after turning 100 today Editor’s Note: For this week’s Q: So, please tell me about column, we sat down with Annette Slocomb at the Saugus Senior Center, just days before she became the latest Saugonian to extend her life to the Century mark. She was born in Lynn on June 2, 1923, and was the oldest of eight children. She is a member of the Lynn Classical High School Class of 1941. She lived in Lynn all of her life before moving to Saugus about 24 years ago. She has a son, William Chapdelaine, from her fi rst husband, who died suddenly. Her second husband died of cancer 35 years ago. She has two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Highlights of this week’s interview follow. yourself and some of the highlights of your life. A: I was born and raised in Lynn. I worked at GE for 16 years. And I did housework and helped old people, even when I was old. I have one son, William Chapdelaine, who lives in town, but mostly in Florida. My grandson, Marc Chapdelaine, is a lawyer in town. His offi ce is on Central Street. Q: How long have you been driving? A: I was old when I got my license. I have been driving since I was 36. Q: What kind of car do you drive? A: I have a 2002 Chevy Prizm. Q: Please tell me about your hobbies. A: I cook. I make all kinds of cakes and stews. I knit and crochet. And I volunteer all of the time. At age 93, I quit working to help older people, because I’m old myself. Q: And you have family that looks out for you? A: I’ve been a widow for 35 years, but have a great family. My son William and his wife had two boys. One is Marc Chapdelaine, who is the lawyer. He has three kids. The other one is a mailman – Matthew Chapdelaine – who lives in Acton, Maine. I was the oldest in a family of eight and there’s three of us left. My brother, Larry Kent, lives in Danvers. He’s 87. My sister, Frances Pearson, lives in Georgetown, and she is 91. Q: Even though you are about to turn 100, you remain pretty active for somebody of your age. A: Yes. I still drive and I vote in every election. And I’m pretty active at the Senior Center; I’m over here mostly every day, either playing bingo or getting involved in the sing-along. I practically live at the Senior Center – it’s my second home. Almost everyone here knows I call it my second home. I play and organize whist on Thursdays. Q: What do you like most about the Senior Center? 5.0 %APY* INSURED 9 Month CD Your nest egg just got an upgrade. A GREAT RATE AND INSURANCE? NO WAY. YES WAY! Here’s your chance to reach your savings goal faster than ever. Everett Bank’s 9 Month CD with an amazing 5.0% APY* gets you closer to those financial goals much faster. Easily calculate better earnings with Everett Bank’s 9 Month CD. Go to everettbank.com to easily open your account on-line in just minutes. Annette Slocomb stands in front of “The Tree of Life” wall at the Saugus Senior Center. She turns 100 today – Friday, June 2. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) A: There are so many activQ: Do you have any advice ities to do and people to see. You meet new people every day here. Q: Please tell me the most interesting thing about your life. A: I have too many stories to tell. Some are good. Some are bad. You know, you just have to keep going. Q: Do you have a favorite one? A: I went out and did house work before I went to work at GE. I cleaned people’s houses and took them to the doctors and the dentist and other places they needed to go. Q: What are you most proud of in your life? A: I can’t believe I’m going to be 100. I think they made a mistake! Q: What’s your favorite car? A: The one that I have, the Chevy Prizm. It’s an ’02, but I love this car. I’d say I’m a Chevy person. I’ve had an Impala and other Chevy cars, but I like this one the best. It’s small. It’s nice. Q: What is your favorite food? A: Shrimp. I love to eat shrimp. Q: What do you like to cook? A: I love to cook banana *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of the date posted and is subject to change without notice. APY assumes that interest remains on deposit until maturity. A withdrawal will reduce earnings. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Minimum of $500 is required to open a Certificate of Deposit and earn the advertised APY. Member FDIC | Member DIF All Deposits Are Insured In Full. bread. If you came to my house, I would have given you a loaf from the freezer. I go shopping at the Market Basket in Lynn and get all of my groceries. for people who would like to live as long as you? A: Keep going. Just keep going. People get lazy as they grow old and they shouldn’t. Keep going and keep busy. The Senior Center keeps me busy. I love the girls here. They are all good to me. Q: Do you have a special diet? A: I’m a diabetic, so I have to stay on a diet. Diabetes and heart disease runs in my family. Q: What do you remember most about your work at GE? A: I was 19 when I went to work at GE. I remember soldering the thin wires in the helicopters. Every time I hear a helicopter, I hope it’s not one that I soldered. Q: Do you have any regrets or things on your “bucket list” that you would still like to do? A: The only thing is that when you get old, all your friends are gone. So, enjoy them while you are living. Time goes by fast and you don’t realize it. Thank God for the Senior Center, because we can call them for a ride if we want to go out of town to see a doctor. The medical van will take us. Q: Do you have any opinion on whether the Town of Saugus should turn into a city? That’s a local issue for some people. ASKS | SEE PAGE 3
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