Woman Celebrates 108 Years

A longtime resident recently celebrated a birthday milestone few ever reach.

Genevieve “Gene” Sirey turned 108 on July 5.

Gene’s longtime friend, Harriet Winch, 84, was on hand to celebrate with a festive cake, flowers and music.

Gene has two sons, Michael, 80, of Indiana, and David, 70, of California. Neither could attend the celebration because of health and financial reasons. Gene also has a granddaughter and several step-grandchildren.  

She and her twin sister, Gertrude (now deceased), were born in 1903 in South Bend, IN. They were raised on the family farm. Gene graduated from high school and attended college in Indiana and became a registered clinical dietitian.

Harriet said that she got to know Gene at William Beaumont Medical Center in Royal Oak, MI, where they worked for 40 years. They maintained their friendship even when Gene and her late husband William (her third marriage) retired and moved to Florida and into Mease Manor in 1992. Harriet and her husband followed their friends to Florida when they eventually retired.

Gene's long life can be attiributed to eating right, exercising and keeping active, she says. She continued to drive locally well into her 90s and painted in oils until she was 103. Her paintings were given as gifts to family and friends, although some have been sold. She is legally blind but still gets around using a walker.

Gene enjoys music and singing, and when asked what her favorite song was, she said “Happy Birthday,” of course.