NJ Woman's 100th Birthday Coincides with JFK Anniversary

Written by Mickey Brandt

Julia Kelly remembers Nov. 22, 1963 clearly. 

It was her 50th birthday.

Yes, that's right. When they sing "Happy Birthday" to Kelly on Friday, it will be for the 100th time. The Vineland, NJ, native remembers many things well. She lives in her home of 60 years. She's active in civic organizations like Moose and Eagles. She cooks, cleans, and cans. And, for these two weeks, she's been going to a lot of birthday luncheon and dinner parties.

When I met her last Friday, she was stewing over her electric bill.

“What the heck are they trying to do to me again,” she growled. “I'll fight it some more; I'm not dead, yet. They'll find that out on Monday.”

I waited politely for the storm to pass and it did, as fast as it whipped up. I told her she was feisty for her age. The diminutive centenarian with the well-coiffed hair and look of a woman significantly younger said, “I don't feel my age; my secret is keeping busy.”

Her descriptions were fragmented a few times, but her narratives were whole. She seemed as healthy was she must have been 50 years before.

“I do have an ailment,” she admitted. “I wear glasses.”

On that fateful day in 1963, she said she was home with her stepson, Benny, whose plane was shot down over South Vietnam that year, leaving him both physically and psychologically disabled.

“I was right there in that room, ironing,” she nodded toward the doorway. ”Benny was in that big chair as we watched a program on the satellite (Telstar). I looked up as he said, 'Mom, the President was shot.' Just like that. I saw him drop his head and it hit me hard.”

Kelly, as many others did, watched the riveting coverage.

She said, “I stayed with the television until they stopped talking about it. Benny must have cried for a week. I was upset for a long time, having my kid there with me like that. (Benny is now 81).

“I can see it right now, I have quite a memory.”

Kelly has three daughters and two sons. She was widowed in that same eventful year. She worked at Kimble Glass, was a waitress and bartender for many years, and farmed. She said she raised 150 foster children.

She told me more longevity secrets. She has a glass of wine at dinner and at bedtime and “sneaks a beer” every so often. She uses honey, never sugar.

We wrapped up. She asked  if I liked cheesecake and I gave a restrained yes. How about ravioli and old Italian-style sauce? Sweet potato pound cake? Blueberry jelly? I had to make two trips  to the car.

“Nobody ever leaves here without anything,” she said.