Irene Bradley says good food, hard work are secret to living to be 104

Irene Bradley is 104 years old, and credits good food and hard work for her longevity.

The resident of Tiverton Park Manor celebrated her birthday, Tuesday afternoon, at the Manor, surrounded by fellow residents and staff, family and friends.

She was even Queen for the Day, as staff member Jane Bonnett placed a tiara on her head at the beginning of the festivities.

Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie not only congratulated Mrs. Bradley on her 104th birthday, but also played some Christmas carols and songs on the piano in honour of this special event.

Eadie even shares some history with the birthday girl who was born and raised on the 2nd Concession of Huron Township, where Eadie's father, Lester Ferguson, was also raised.

"Amberley was the place to go for them," said Eadie. "At that time, it had two stores and a hotel."

When Mrs. Bradley raised her own family, most of the food was home-grown, and she worked hard, milking cows for years. "Hard work never killed anybody," she said.
 

Born Dec. 20, 1912, she is the daughter of John and Edith (Robb) Henry. She married Stuart Bradley in 1935 and they farmed on the Bruce-Kincardine Boundary, east of Tiverton, until they retired to Kincardine in 1966. They later lived in Inverhuron for 25 years, and she has been a resident of Tiverton Park Manor for the past nine years.
 

They had two children: Doris who married Ernie Young and lives on the 2nd Concession of Bruce Township; and Gordon who married Lois and lives in Kincardine. Stuart died in 1998.
 

Irene has eight grandchildren: Jim (Rose Marie) Young, Bill (Nancy) Young, Brian (Kathryn) Young, all of Tiverton, Roger Young of Port Elgin, June (Laverne Walker) of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Linda Young of  the 2nd of Bruce, Joan Bradley (Nick Bjelan) of Hensall, and Donald (Lisa) Bradley of Kitchener.
 

She also has 17 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
 

Irene enjoys genealogy and is like a walking history book - she can tell you who everyone is in the neighbourhood and in her family, and how people are related.

Over the past 104 years, she has seen many changes, but the major ones were the installation of hydro in 1948, and the arrival of cars.
 

Irene is a member of Knox Presbyterian Church in Tiverton and was a member of the Women's Missionary Society there, and the Tiverton Women's Institute.
 

Now, she enjoys curling up her chair and reading the paper every day, and going for tea. She is as sharp today as she was when she turned 100, and her friends and family look forward to celebrating her birthday again next year.