Adams Woman Celebrates 100 Years
ADAMS, Mass. — The community wished Rose Koscielniak, a true "Wonder Woman," a happy 100th birthday on Thursday.
Friends and family surrounded Koscielniak at a party held at the Council on Aging, which was decorated to the nines with balloons and Wonder Woman posters, to celebrate who they said was a real superhero.
"I want to thank everybody who came here today I never expected anything like this," Koscielniak said. "It is a wonderful thing, and I thank you all for coming and making this such a good day."
Council on Aging Director Erica Girgenti thanked everyone for attending and introduced some of the services and caregivers that allow Koscielniak to continue to live as independently as possible.
Sylvia Les, Home Instead's human resource director, Les wished Koscielniak well and said she looked forward to her 101st birthday party.
"One hundred years of memories, 100 years of life," Les said. "You are a special lady, an inspiration and you have probably done more in your lifetime than most of us have ever dreamed about. I want to say enjoy your birthday and I will see you here next year for 101."
Koscielniak's son-in-law, Ken Reese also thanked all those who help Koscielniak, pointing especially his wife, Carol.
"I did some research on heroes. Batman had Robin, the Lone Ranger had Tonto, but Wonder Woman, according to my research, didn't have anybody," he said. "Then I thought this Wonder Woman has a wonderful daughter who is always there for her mother and calls her every day."
Koscielniak, an Adams native, was born Dec. 1, 1916, as Rose LaChance. Local historian Eugene Michalenko provided a historical backdrop of her life.
"Living 100 years and especially the 100 years that you lived was an incredible time and so much has changed here," Michalenko said. "A lot happened within just half of your lifetime."
He said she was born when Woodrow Wilson was president and, since then, she has seen 18 presidents. He added that the Plunketts were still alive when she was young and America was just about to enter World War I. She graduated high school in 1936.
When she was young, women did not have the right to vote, she lived through the Great Depression and World War II and outlived the Bolsheviks and Communism.
Also, Koscielniak and her late husband, Casimer, brought color television to Adams as the owners of Cass' TV, a television sales and service business.
Toward the end of the end of the ceremonies, state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi presented Koscielniak with a certificate from the state House of Representatives.
"Everyone that I spoke to on the occasion of your 100th birthday was just totally amazed and they all had many well wishes for you," she said. "This is something that is special to the House of Representatives."
Girgenti said community members and elementary school pupils made 100 cards for Koscielniak. Many of the children said they would love to meet her.
"My hope and plan is to try to get you to go over to the elementary school because I think it is important for kids to see how beautiful 100 years looks like," she said. "I think everyone in this room would say you do not look a day over 60."
Correction: Mr. Reese's name has been corrected in this article. iBerkshires regrets the error.
Tags: birthday, centenarian, Council on Aging,
