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Senior celebrates 100th birthday

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Sally Crowe recently turned 100.

Residents of Carriage House condominiums in Cloverdale had a lot to celebrate early last month when they gathered for their annual post-holiday Christmas dinner – and a special birthday bash for Sally Crowe, who's lived there for more than 20 years.

Crowe turned 100 on Jan. 4, 2011. Four days later, a majority of her neighbours turned out for a delicious turkey and ham dinner followed by birthday cake and a toast to the centenarian.

Sally, who still lives alone in her condominium, has led a very eventful life.

Born in Dilke, Saskatchewan to Eric and Bertha Josvanger, Sally was the third child of seven children.

She was active in many church and social functions, and was a heck of a basketball player.

In her early teens, she fell ill with rheumatic fever and wasn't expected to pull through. But she was back on her feet after six months of bed rest.

Unfortunately, her dreams of becoming a nurse were shattered – nursing schools would not accept her for training because of potential heart problems as a result of her illness.

Sally managed to prove those professionals wrong. She met her husband Art Crowe in Regina, where he was a bank manager. When he moved to Vancouver, Sally followed, and they were married and her daughter Donna was born. Sally enjoyed traveling with frequent trips to visit friends and family in Alberta and Saskatchewan and many winters in Hawaii.

Art passed away from cancer in 1977, and Sally moved to Cloverdale.

–submitted by Angel and Peter Nash