Penacook Place community gathers

to celebrate 100^th birthdays

HAVERHILL – Staff members, residents and their loved ones gathered together on Wednesday, April 9, for a celebration that has become a tradition at Penacook Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center – a party honoring residents who have surpassed the age of 100 or will turn 100 this year.

Resident Arthur Bradley turned 102 last month. Josephine Yannolfo and Helen Fenlon will turn 100 later this year. To mark the occasion, all three were given personalized quilts. They also received citations from Mayor James J. Fiorentini, City Councilors David Hall and Michael McGonagle, Representative Brian Dempsey and Senator Steven Baddour.

Bradley was born in Haverhill and is the third youngest of 10 children. He was married to the late Margaret (Galata) Bradley for 65 years. For 26 years (from age 60 to 86) Bradley and his wife celebrated his birthday by vacationing in Bermuda. He has five children, 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren, with a seventh on the way.

“I have no regrets and I had a happy marriage. I’m close to all my children,” he said.

Bradley’s words of wisdom on how to live a long life?

“Treat other people as you would like to be treated yourself..,” and “Don’t get mad with people!”

Josephine Yannolfo is a life-long resident of Haverhill. She was married to the late Eugene Yannalfo for more than 70 years. They have three children. Her secret to reaching 100?

“Be happy! It’s not too difficult to be happy. I always had a good outlook,” she said.  Her daughters agree that their mother always had a positive attitude. Yannolfo is surrounded by the many friends she has made at Penacook, as well as those in the community who come to visit her.

Helen Fenlon grew up in Groveland then moved to Bradford. Eventually she relocated to Florida, where she lived for 25 years. She moved back to Haverhill about five years ago.

She was married to the late John Fenlon for many years. They met on the train when she was commuting to her job at Clark Wilcox in Boston, where she worked for nine years. She has three children, 18 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.

            Fenlon also has been very active and engaged in her community throughout her life. She’s an avid sports fan and she won many a shuffleboard tournament while living in Florida, earning her the nickname “Flutie.” She was a Girl Scout Leader and active in the Hibernians and Sacred Heart Church.

Located at 150 Water St., the 160-bed Penacook Place is the only not-for-profit nursing and rehabilitation facility serving the city of Haverhill. Penacook Place has a professional staff of 230 employees. Contributions that support the purchase of new equipment, renovations and resident activities can be made to the Friends of Penacook Fund, c/o Penacook Place, 150 Water St., Haverhill, MA, 01830.