Submitted Photo: Helen Grande will turn 106 years young on April 19.

In April of 1911, Eugene B. Ely landed his plane on the deck of the USS Pennsylvania for the very first landing of a plane onto a ship. The Indianapolis 500 Auto race was run for the very first time in Indianapolis, Indiana. The very first transcontinental flight, conducted by C.P. Rodgers, completed its journey to Pasadena, California after several stops, 82 hours and four minutes and Helen Grande was born.

That’s right, Chautauqua Nursing & Rehab’s very own, Helen Grande, a long-term care resident since 2003, will be celebrating her 106th birthday next week on April 19 and the staff couldn’t be happier to be able to celebrate with her.

Born Helen Farina, in Yatesboro, Pennsylvania, she was the oldest child of three sisters and one brother. She attended school until the seventh grade, which at that time was considered a long time as children typically only attended school for a few years to learn basic educational skills and then either went to work or helped at home. She married Ralph Grande and the couple endured much heartache, losing all three of their children very early on in life. The couple relocated to the Dunkirk area. After Ralph passed away, Helen went to work. She was previously employed by Red Wing and Kresge Store in Dunkirk.

When asked what the secret to a long life is, Helen laughed and said, “I wish I knew.” Staff would say that maybe her extraordinarily complimentary and positive outlook has something to do with it. She is always paying someone a compliment and tells the CNRC staff how much she loves them.

We can’t know what medical breakthrough may come along to extend our lives or what plague may shorten them. All we can do is take one day, or in Helen’s case, 38,717 days at a time.