PLATTSBURGH — Mary Ballman, of Rouses Point, celebrates centenarian milestone with family, friends, music and cake Tuesday afternoon.
“Well, I never expected this! It is so wonderful, so beautiful,” she said, motioning to the people and decorations around her.
“People here have been talking about this for a while,”
According to Ballman, the secret to achieving this milestone, “love,” and “support,”
“I am feeling quite good and very fortunate to have the support of my family and friends in my life, I have a lot of love,” she said.
“That is what gets you through everything,”
The team at Victory Place Senior Community threw Ballman her 100th birthday party with live music performed by Mitch Willette, and three different cheese-cakes made by Denise, her eldest daughter.
“There couldn’t be a nicer person to celebrate. We are so blessed to have Mary around.” Paul Hamilton, co-owner of Victory Place Senior Community, said.
Following the musical performance, Mary received a wealth of birthday wishes from her fellow residents of the independent living community.
“When you live with these people everyday it’s nice to know they think of you,” she said.
Ballman was born Mary Denise Hagerty, to John Patrick Hagerty and Eleanor Mildred McGrath Hagerty, on April 8, 1925 in Passaic, New Jersey.
She graduated from Washington School for Secretaries in Newark, New Jersey and worked as a stenographer for Hoffman-LaRoche in Nutley NJ.
This is where she met and married Richard Ballman; together they had 7 daughters.
The Ballman family moved to Rouses Point in 1967 when her husband took a job with Ayerst Laboratories.
Dick died in 1969, leaving Mary to raise 7 children, ages 6-15, on her own.
“We have been so lucky growing up, we lost dad very young, but she has always been a rock for us,” Mary Paradis, one of her seven daughters, said.
“Wherever she is, is home,”
She now has 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Ballman was a very active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Rouses Point, serving on the Parish Council for many years, until her move to Plattsburgh.
She was a member and officer of the Altar Rosary Society, decorating the church for special occasions and doing the daily chores to help keep the church in order.
Ballman was also a lector and Eucharistic Minister.
Her hobbies include sewing, hand embroidery, knitting and making sugar Easter eggs, which are a treasured heirloom among her grandchildren.
“We cherish every moment, and are fortunate to get 100 years with her, well not the full 100 for some of us, but enough of it.” Paradis said.