Penacook Place honors centenarians

Facility continues tradition of recognizing residents 100 and older

HAVERHILL – We’d all like to live a long life. And while life expectancies continue to rise, still only a relatively small number of people live long enough to celebrate their 100^th birthday. At Penacook Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, those who achieve that milestone receive special recognition each year. Staff members, residents and their loved ones recently gathered for Penacook’s annual celebration honoring its centenarians – those residents who will reach or surpass the age of 100 this year.

Josephine Delva, who turned 101 on March 3; Josephine Yannalfo, who will turn 101 on October 30; Mary Jane Lebrecque, who turned 100 on February 21; and Flora Batchelder, who will turn 100 on September 26, were honored.

The event was attended by many friends and family members, Penacook staff and Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini, who gave each woman an official proclamation. Rep. Brian Dempsey and City Councilor David Hall also attended and brought special proclamations for Penacook’s centenarians. Angelo’s the Florist of Haverhill provided white and yellow spring daisy arrangements and each of the four guests of honor received matching corsages. All four women also received personalized black onyx “wisdom” bracelets.

Coincidentally, Batchelder and Yannalfo have been good friends since elementary school. They grew up in the same Bradford neighborhood and their mothers were also good friends. They worked in the same shoe shop and when they married, their husbands became friends as well. Later, they also lived in the same elderly housing complex, where they participated in a walking group and attended many social gatherings. Yannalfo was the first to enter Penacook Place. When Batchelder came, they became roommates. Asked the secret to their long friendship, the two answered in unison: “To have a good friend you have to be a good friend.”