Local woman celebrates 100 years with friends

MILFORD – Polly Kenick turns 100 today and a couple of hundred friends and neighbors showed up at the Veterans of Foreign Wars home on Sunday to help her celebrate.

“This is like an old-time Lyndeborough day,” said Kenick’s daughter, Ann Carlson, who now lives in South Carolina. “Like it always was when I came home.”

Pauline Kenick lives in Wilton, where she is the holder of the town’s Boston Post Cane as the oldest resident, but she lived for many years in Lyndeborough.

One of those former Lyndeborough neighbor’s, Vera Holt, made an appearance as “Aunt Fannie,” a down-home folksy character she has portrayed many times, with hilarious tales of neighbors and town doings. At the end, she told Kenick she had brought a gift since she needed a new “yard stick.” That turned out to be a small tree branch tied with a big ribbon.

It was a day for honoring Kenick, beginning with Wilton Selectman Bill Condra who brought a card and a proclamation from the town. He said she was the “first and maybe the only centenarian” in Wilton, and wished her “another happy 100 years.”

A special gift was brought by Kathy Holland, of Milford, who was representing the Pease Greeters, a large group of people who are on hand to ease the departure of troops deploying overseas, and to welcome those who are returning home.

For years, Kenick has knitted helmet liners, a woolen cap to wear under a helmet, and has several times joined the greeters.

Holland called her “the matriarch of the greeters,” and brought her a sweatshirt inscribed “Happy 100th Birthday” and signed by many of the Greeters. “They all send their love and greetings,” Holland said. “This is a tribute and respect for your patriotism.”

She was also given a teddy bear who joined another special bear in Kenick’s walker basket: the little teddy bear she had had since she was 7 years old.

Live music was provided by some of musicians who gather regularly at Nelson’s Candies in Wilton on Tuesday mornings. Kenick played piano with them until recently, she said, “My fingers got too stiff.”

One of those players wrote and sang a special song: “Polly, Oh Polly,” with a chorus of “Oh Polly, Oh Polly, you’re triple digit.”

Two walls of the meeting room were covered with a time line, a collection of events worldwide, state, local and family, beginning in 1910. The display included pictures as well as descriptions and lists of events both important and trivial. Toward the end of the line, births and marriages of descendants are included along with pictures.

Kenick’s daughter, Lois Kenick of Lyndeborough, said “the concept began in April,” but illness and other problems interfered, so she didn’t really get back to it until October, she said.

“You can look at it and see what was happening around the world.” Lois said.

A large cake depicting the major events and Kenick’s hobbies was made by Lyndeborough resident Deb Leavitt.

Kenick grew up in Nashua, graduated from Exeter Hospital School of Nursing in 1933. She and her husband Joe raised three children: Ann, Lois and son Joe Kenick Jr. All three were present for the party.

In addition to the helmet liners, Kenick has made dozens of hat and sweater sets for premature babies at Elliott Hospital. She also makes gift bags for shut-ins receiving Meals on Wheels, gifts for all the residents at Edgewater Community where she lives, and supports her church and the Lyndeborough Apple Festival. She still enjoys cooking and traveling, but has had to scale back the trips a little in recent years.

Those present sang “Happy Birthday,” which was followed by the traditional Polish song “The Second Hundred Years” – sung in Polish.