Raise your glasses in the air for a toast — a toast to a century of life.
MORRISTOWN -- Raise your glasses in the air for a toast -- a toast to a century of life.
Three seniors did just that, with alcohol-free wine, as they celebrated 100 years of life Wednesday at the Spring Hills Morristown Assisted Living Community.
Lucille Wojciechowski, who turned 100 on December 13, 2015, Lydia Oldroyd, who turned 100 on September 9, 2015, and Mamie Bookhard, who turned 100 on May 19, 2014, celebrated their centenarian bash with their families, balloons and cake.
Bookhard was born in South Carolina and eventually followed her sisters to Hempstead, Long Island. She worked in a tailor shop where she met her husband. They eventually had two boys. She lived in Hempstead for 72 years and moved to Spring Hills in April 2008 when her health deteriorated.
Wojciechowski was born in the Bronx and worked as a window decorator, model and sales associate for a department store. She met her future husband on a boat ride to Bear Mountain and they later moved to New Rochelle, N.Y. to raise their family. She came to Spring Hills in November 17, 2011.
Oldroyd was born in Long Island City and later moved to Summit. After finishing school she worked in the Silk Factories and later married her childhood playmate. Oldroyd had four children and lived at home until she was 97. She came to Spring Hills in 2012.
The number of people worldwide making it to the 100-year-old milestone has increased drastically since 1990, from about 95,000 to 451,000 last year, according to the Pew Research Center.
The number is expected to skyrocket by 2050 with over 3.5 million people living past 100.
Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.