Community Corner

Respect Our Elders to Recognize Enumclaw's Oldest Citizen

The Enumclaw Senior Activity Center is sponsoring a day to celebrate local seniors on Thursday, Sept. 29.

Who is Enumclaw's oldest citizen?

It'll be less than a week when that answer is revealed during Respect Our Elders Day on Thursday, Sept. 29, a day to celebrate local senior citizens, which is being sponsored by the Enumclaw Senior Activity Center.

The Center has been receiving nominations for the title of 'oldest citizen' for the past several weeks, and the front-runner is currently 102-year-old Mary Vinzulis, a resident at Cascade House, the center's office assistant Athena Blum shared with Patch earlier this week.

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Ida Marie Demster also nominated her 96-year-old mother Ida Demster at the suggestion of a family friend.

"She's the oldest person I know," she said. "And she's still busy in the community. She goes to church (at Hope Lutheran) and quilts on Mondays. She likes to have a good time and loves her family."

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The senior Demster grew up in Parkland and went to Pacific Lutheran College -- prior to becoming Pacific Lutheran University.

Vinzulis said she is originally from Philadelphia but has lived in Enumclaw for several years -- a granddaughter lives nearby in Black Diamond and her son lives in Seattle.

Cody Burnett, the facility's resident director said she nominated Vinzulis because she didn't know anyone else who is older, but "Mary is as independent as she can be," Burnett said. "She gets up and takes care of herself, does her own hair, drinks her coffee..."

As is Demster, her daughter said. When asked if she had any tips to share for living a long and happy life, Demster initially said she didn't do anything special.

After a moment, however, "I was married for 70 years," she said. Her husband died more than two years ago but she in part credits her long and happy marriage for her longevity.

What about Vinzulis -- what's her secret? "Keep peace with everybody," she said emphatically.

Charity is also important. "Sometimes it can hurt a little but if you can help someone else, it comes back."

But what we want to know is, as Burnett asked her over lunch this week: how do you stay looking so good?

Without hesitation, she said, "Keep smiling."

Can you beat 102? If you'd like to enter this contest or nominate someone else, please call the Senior Center at 360-825-4741 or simply drop by.

On Sept. 29, the 'winner' will be crowned during a day long celebration beginning at lunch time and concluding with Simply Soup, a free community dinner that begins at 5:30 p.m.Β 

Also as part of this day of celebration, the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce is working with local businesses to offer a 10 percent discount to local senior shoppers between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Participating businesses will have signs posted.


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