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Sarah Todman turns 100 and sets milestone for family by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 9 | Friday, February 28, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Sarah Todman has set a milestone -- she's the first in her family to turn 100. The centenarian officially turned 100 Sunday (Feb. 23), but celebrated her birthday the day before to accommodate the more than 30 families gathering from the U.S., including Tennessee, New Jersey and North Carolina. Todman has two children, Marlyn Shane, 69 and an Oakville resident, and Don Todman, 66, who lives in Cleveland, Ohio. She also has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren with another expected in May. While Todman had no real secret to reaching 100, Shane says her mother has always told her family and friends that she has lived a long and happy life -- never imagining she would see the milestone. "She never drank or smoked. She was very active and ate pretty healthily," said Shane, West in Oakville where Todman lived from 2005-13 -- she currently lives at Wyndham Manor Long Term Care on Reynolds Street. She moved to Oakville from Toronto where she lived for 60 years, even on her own in the latter years after the death of her husband in 1971. "My mom is sweet, gentle, caring and always there for any one of us when we needed help," Shane said. "After my father died, she became, without realizing it, a very strong and independent woman." The Kensington not only played host to the more than 75 people -- including cousins, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren -- who attended the birthday party, but catered the affair as well. "It was all quite special. The day was just magic," said Shane. "Truly, she looked amazing... she keeps saying she had such a good time and was absolutely thrilled with the photo of the Queen (on the plaque she received)." Todman received numerous plaques and certificates for her 100th birthday, including from Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Governor-General David Johnston, Oakville MP Terence Young, Lieutenant Governor David Onley, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn and Mayor Rob Burton. Family and friends of Sarah Todman, centre, who turned 100 Feb. 23, gathered at The Kensington retirement residence Saturday for her birthday party. She received numerous plaques and certificates including those from Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. Here, Sarah's son Don Todman and daughter Marilyn Shane show her the plaque from the Queen. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) A STEP BEYOND IN CARE DO YOU HAVE: Salima Kassam Reg. Chiropodist when asked what she thought helped her mother reach 100. "She did a lot of knitting and continued to knit well into her 80s. She stayed involved, reading newspapers, books, played cards, Euchre three times a week. "She has definitely travelled quite a bit, even after my father passed away, to Hawaii, Disney, Las Vegas, and touring around with some of her senior girlfriends." Festivities were held at The Kensington on Lakeshore Road · Foot/Arch Pain? · Ingrown Toenails? · Diabetes? · Swollen Ankles? · Corns, Calluses? CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT 905-632-1414 Jet Peel - Facial of the Future Natural, Effective, Gentle & Painless · Removes Sun Damages & Pigmentation · Exfoliates, Hydrates & Deep Cleanses · Reduces Wrinkles & Rejuvenates · Hydrates & Oxygenates · No Down Time We Draw! Summer Camp We Sing! Summer Camp We Paint! We Dance! Oakville Academy for the Arts March Break Camp! March Break Camp! March Break Camp! Offering The Finest in Arts Exploration and Development! Arts Integration Camp (Ages 5-12) 728 Burloak Drive www.footandhealthclinic.com 361 Cornwall Rd., Oakville March 10 - 14 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM Registration on Now 289.291.0168 (next to the Whole Foods Market) Full and half day camps available. Extended care available from 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM. Spaces are limited! www.beautyinstituteandspa.com 1011 Upper Middle Road & Eighth Line, Oakville, Ontario L6H 4L5 905.844.ARTS (2787) www.oakvilleacademy.com