Communication Builds Our Community

Centenarians Celebrated at Waters' Edge of Lake Wales

Three Women From Midwest Mark their 100th Birthdays

Courtesy Water's Edge

Esther Shelton worked at Western Electric for 28 yrs making telephones.

Three residents of Water's Edge in Lake Wales are celebrating landmark birthdays as they reach the century mark of life's grand adventure. All three hail from the Midwest and are active in their community.

Esther Shelton was born August 18,1924 in Indianapolis Indiana. Esther moved to Florida in 1990 and has been a resident of Waters Edge of Lake Wales for eight years.

Esther worked at Western Electric for 28 yrs making telephones. She was married and raised two children. Esther had the honor of being crowned Assisted Living Prom Queen for 2024.

Dorothy Janssen is the eldest of the trio, born on November 23, 1924 in Roberts, Illinois and is the last survivor of seven children in her family, who grew up on their family farm and helped harvesting crops including corn and soybeans.

Married to Delmar Janssen on June 3, 1945, shortly after VE Day near the end of WWII, Dorothy has been living at Water's Edge of Lake Wales since June 3, 2009.

She told Lake Wales News that she was born in farm country beyond the reach of electric service, just a few miles from the small town of Roberts Illinois.

Courtesy Water's Edge

Dorothy Janssen grew up on their family farm and helped harvesting crops including corn and soybeans.

"One of my jobs growing up was to be certain that all the lamps and Dad’s lantern he used in the barn were filled with kerosine," she sid. "We lived through the great depression with the help of a huge garden which supplied my mother with many vegetables to can. Living on a farm was a blessing. We had our own milk from 4 cows and eggs from the chicken."

"We ran the milk through the separator and sold the cream to help buy groceries that was needed. I still remember the job of washing the separator. All those disks..." she recalled.

"I used to draw and paint my own pictures. I would sell some and give the others away. My husband Dil and I loved to travel and we visited many Countries plus all the states but four."

She enjoys life, spending time with her friends at Water's Edge. Most of all she enjoys dancing and arts and crafts projects. She complimented the staff there, saying "they are all so kind," calling it "a nice place to live in my old age. God had blessed me all of my life. To him I give thanks and all glory…

Courtesy Water's Edge

Mary Ann Rozevink of Grabill, Indiana moved to Florida in 2007. She previously lived in Genesis Pointe near Warner University.

Mary Ann Rozevink was born October 10, 1924 in Grabill, Indiana. She moved to Florida in 2007. She previously lived in Genesis Pointe near Warner University where she was a member of the South Lake Wales Church of God.

Mary Ann was married three years. She moved to Waters Edge of Lake Wales on May 9, 2024, where she loves to play Rummikub with her friends. Mary Ann contributes all that she is and has to Jesus.

 

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