The baby that Mary W. Hahn held during a party earlier this month to celebrate her 100th birthday was particularly dear to her, as he represented the sixth generation of her large extended family.
Tiny Collin Podguski of Reading, who turned 1 month old the day of the party, rested peacefully in the arms of his great-great-great-grandmother, completely unaware of the significance of the event.
"He's so sweet," Mary said, as she cradled and rocked the baby.
Hahn, who lives in Sinking Spring with her 81-year-old daughter, Kathryn H. Styer, was feted at a party in St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Adamstown, Lancaster County.
More than 100 friends and relatives showed up to celebrate her birthday and the accomplishment of six generations of one family. They snapped photos, ate cake, drank punch and marveled at Hahn's long life.
She grew up in Alleghenyville and moved to East Earl Township in Lancaster County when she married her husband, Harvey, in 1929. She was married not quite two years when Harvey died as a result of blood poisoning, leaving Hahn pregnant with a son, also named Harvey. She also had a young daughter, Kathryn.
She never remarried and has lived with her daughter for 33 years. Hahn said she feels fortunate that she is in relatively good health and able to enjoy time with her family and friends. She and family members attribute her long healthy life, at least partially, to the fact that every day Hahn consumes the juice of a whole lemon.
"Every morning she cuts a lemon in half and squeezes all the juice out of it and drinks it," Styer said. "She's done that for 50 years, and that's what she says has kept her healthy."
Hahn also wears a copper bracelet to ward off arthritic pain.
"I don't have any pain from it, so I guess the bracelet works," she said.
The centenarian also is known for her healthy appetite. Family members observed that she keeps up with the younger folks when it comes to eating. In fact, she celebrated her 100th birthday in two different restaurants.
"We went to lunch at Shady Maple, and then in the evening we went to the Deluxe diner, and they had pie for me and sang 'Happy Birthday,' " Hahn said. "It was a good day."
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