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Summerland woman celebrates 100th birthday

Mary Barrows was born in England, came to Canada after World War II
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It has been a good life and a long life for Mary Barrows.

On Aug. 20, the Angus Place resident celebrated her 100th birthday, surrounded by family and friends.

Barrows was born in Southampton, England on Aug. 20, 1918.

She is the oldest of seven children. Her five brothers and one sister are all still living.

She met her husband Gilbert Bird while she was working at the Canadian Medical Hospital in Bramshott, England, where she was maintaining the nurses’ quarters.

At the time, Bird was in the Medical Corp and was working at the same hospital, tending to the Canadian wounded.

In 1945, after the war, Bird returned to Canada and Barrows followed in 1946.

They settked in Birch Hills, Sask, where Bird was working as a telephone linesman.

The couple had three children.

Their son Michael was born in England, raised in Canada and now lives in England.

Another son, Malcolm, now lives in Calgary.

A daughter, Valerie, lives in Lethbridge.

In the early 1950s, the couple moved to Bowness, Alberta, where he worked at the Calgary General Hospital and she worked at the Baker Memorial Sanitarium.

After Bird’s death, she moved to Calgary and worked at the Holiday Inn and later at the Royal Hotel.

She moved to Abbotsford around 1974, where she met Clayton Barrows.

While on a holiday to Calgary, they were married.

The two later moved to Peachland, and from there, they moved to Summerland in 1990.

She has been a resident of Angus Place since 2006.

While at the seniors care facility, she met and then moved in with Gunter Steffens.

Looking back over her life, Barrows has seen numerous changes and developments over the years.

“Things have changed over 100 years, especially technology, computers and cell phones,” she said.

As for her secret to a long life, “I really don’t know,” she said. “I always have a nap in the afternoons, so I get enough sleep.”

Family members say her positive attitude and sense of humour are also factors in living to 100.

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John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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