Every lady wants to feel special on her birthday. Vera Duffy of Santee got the royal treatment at her own birthday party. Flanked by family and friends, Santee Mayor Randy Voepel read the proclamation that made Feb. 19 Vera Duffy Day.
All the attendance were celebrating Duffy’s 100th birthday. The invitation for the mayor came about by a twist of circumstances.
Julie Nynas, owner and operator of Julie’s Elderly Care and Duffy’s caretaker, brought Duffy to her eye doctor one day. A lady that worked there rents a house in Santee from the mayor and said she would ask him if he would come to her party. He agreed to not only attend the celebration but proclaim Feb. 19 as Vera Duffy Day.
“I love all these whereases,” Vopel said, laughing, as he read the
proclamation.

“She is always moving, doing, keeping her mind active. She doesn’t like to watch television.”

“Whereas, blessed with excellent health, Vera is a positive role model for her many nieces and nephews encouraging them to exercise and eat a healthy diet; and whereas, Vera has always demonstrated her understanding, caring, and love for her family, her friends, and her community. Now, therefore, I , Randy Voepel, mayor of Santee on behalf of the city council do hereby proclaim Feb. 19, 2010 as Vera Duffy Day on her 100th birthday.Her friends from St. Dunstan’s Church joined Duffy’s sister, nephew and grand-nieces in applause. Cupid’s Catering of El Cajon provided the lunch, Smilin’ Jack played the accordion, and Duffy looked on in her peach-colored suit, holding the bunch of long stem roses Voepel had given her.
“This is quite a day,” said Vopel.
“These flowers are gorgeous,” Duffy said quietly.“She will make a beautiful arrangement with them,” Nynas said.

“She is always moving, doing, keeping her mind active. She doesn’t like to watch television.”
Duffy had always wanted to have children. But she said she and her husband never could. He worked for the railroad and they were always moving.
In fact, Duffy moved 29 times in 33 years of her marriage. Rather than fuss and complain about not having children, she lavished attention on her nieces and nephews.
“She taught me to crochet when I was very young,” said 18-year –old Amy Smith, one of Duffy’s grand-nieces,” but first she taught me to knit and purl because she said I needed to learn patience first.”
Duffy still crochets, often giving away dishcloths and coasters to friends
and family members who come to visit. She remembers one of her favorite things she knitted was a cocktail dress.
“It was full of lace, beautiful, and the skirt itself was gorgeous,” Duffy said. “Back then, kids really liked to dress up.”
Smith’s 15 year old sister Melissa, treasures the memories of walking with her great-aunt looking for coins. “I have this doll I got when I was little, and she and I would find and collect coins for the doll, so he could go on pretend trips,” she said.
Traveling is something Duffy began at the age of 17, when she moved to Chicago on her own to attend business school.
Eventually, she met her future husband.
“She always says how her husband thought about going into the military, but they said they wouldn’t take him because the railroad was more important,” Nynas said.
Over in the dining room, Ed DuBois cleared his throat and announced it was time to eat. “Let’s say grace first,” he said, and Nynas moved Duffy in her wheelchair from the bedroom.
DuBois was just finishing up the prayer when Duffy arrived at his side. “I missed it,” she announced.

“Vera, would you like me to say it again? DuBois asked.
She nodded. He accommodated.
“That’s our Vera. She is still in charge at 100, Nynas said, smiling.
After a lifetime of caring about other people, Duffy now has the warm family environment of caretakers and friends at Julie’s Elderly Care.

She has lived at the care center, a six bedroom house overlooking the golf
course in Santee, for a little more than two years. Prior to moving to Julie’s Elderly Care, Duffy had lived with her niece for nine months.
“Even when she isn’t feeling her best she doesn’t want to waste one minute of precious time,” Nynas said, adding that Duffy loved visiting with others and going out to lunch.
“That’s right. She loves coming to the senior lunch at St. Dunstan’s,” said DuBois, one of the three friends from that church whom Duffy had invited to her celebration.
“And since Cupid Catering does the lunches there, that’s who she wanted for her party,” he said.
Everyone commented on how well Duffy looked. During the past couple of weeks she has been getting more tired and has been in some pain, but she gets something accomplished every day.
“She used to fold all the laundry every day for the entire home care,” Nynas said.
Truth is, Duffy said she did not have an easy life. She said people don’t know how lucky they are today, that she used to not have running water, having to melt snow and ice to get water. Her father passed away when she was young, and she lived on a farm where her mother had five more children.
But in living a century, Duffy has a few words of wisdom for younger folks.
“The most important thing in the world is to never say ‘good night’ to your husband while you are still mad. Kiss each other every night,” she said.