Doreen Ellen Folkes, a member of the Oakville community since 1957, has celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday with family and friends at St Luke's Church here in town.
Folkes was born on May 7, 1924 - meaning that yesterday, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, was her exact 100th birthday.
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Doreen's journey led her family to Toronto in the 1930s before settling in Oakville in 1957, where she has been living ever since. She's the proud mother of three children, grandmother to eight, and great-grandmother to twelve.
"I can't honestly believe that I'm 100 but I am," said Doreen. "The fact that I made it to the point where I had my family and my friends all together in one room, it was wonderful to be able to see them all and talk to them. That was the most important thing, that I had them all!"
Doreen remembers her special day as a beautiful event where she got to reconnect with family and friends whom she's talked to over the phone but hadn't seen for a while.
Her professional journey spanned 25 years at Canada Permanent Trust (now known as TD Bank) in Toronto, and she was a member of the St. Jude's of Oakville choir for 50 years.
The occasion of Doreen's centenary was celebrated with approximately 60 friends and family in attendance at St. Luke's Church, near Palermo Village, over the weekend at a special party. The event was attended by relatives from as far as Vancouver and South Carolina.
Among the memories captured from the celebration are images of Doreen with her pink crown, made by her great-grandchild, Hudson, as well as heartfelt moments shared with her family and friends.
So what's her secret to a long life? According to Doreen, "You have to be happy and you have to be grateful for what you've got and be thankful."
"I can honestly say that family keeps me going more than anything, I love my family very much."
Happy 100th birthday Doreen!