5 centennial birthday celebrations at Clarence-Rockland retirement home

A retirement home in Clarence-Rockland is celebrating special birthdays in March, with five residents at least 100 years old. CTV’s Shaun Vardon reports.

It’s a special month at a retirement home in Clarence-Rockland, as five residents at the Rockland Manor are having triple digit birthdays.

The oldest resident, Helena Archer, turned 105 on Tuesday. She’s seen a lot over the years and the matriarch of this very special club knows that a long life has its frustrations and rewards.

“Sometimes it’s very good, but other times it’s pretty bad when you can’t do some of the things on your own, but I’ve been very fortunate I have a lot of nice friends,” Archer said. “I’m surprised at the gathering that has been here, and I love it. I’ve seen some of my relatives that I have not seen for a long time.”

Louis Aubry, Lorenzo Genier, and Joan Church are all 101 and Marcell Lalonde is turning 100 within the month of March.

They are all part of this special club. Their lives a testament to resilience and wisdom, all joining with family and friends for a special celebration. With over half a millennia of experience between them, they have lots to share, and when you’ve lived this long, you may find you have the time to get a few things done.

Louis Aubry has traced thousands of branches of his family tree, going back centuries.

“I’ve worked on my genealogy. My ancestor came to new France in the first year and I’ve got 7,000 descendants; that’s not counting the spouses,” Aubry said. “It’s nice being here. There is a lot of experience here, I enjoy it.”

Family is important, as these milestones are celebrated. Brad Church and his mother Joan are close. He visited Tuesday to celebrate having her close, still having parents into his own golden years a special reward.

“It’s fantastic. To be able to talk to her and call her on the phone or come over and see her. she’s always willing to listen and talk, it’s great,” Church said. “It’s fantastic I still have her.”

Pierre Genier agrees having his father still around a gift.

“You don’t expect that he’s the first one that’s lived so long in our family, so it’s a gift,” Genier said. “I think it’s important to recognize someone’s life, it’s an achievement and more and more people are living this long now.”