We Love Our Centenarians

On February 25, 2014, birthday girl, Ina Hansen, celebrated her 105th birthday at the Villas at Sunny Acres Retirement community in Thornton, Colorado surrounded by her family and friends. It is believed that she is our oldest resident in our 45 year history of serving seniors.

Ina Hansen

Ina moved to Villas at Sunny Acres, to be closer to her daughter and two grandsons and has enjoyed living in her independent living apartment for the last 12 years. She enjoys all of the various activities, socials, and services on our 64 acre community.

Ina was born and raised on a farm in Storm Lake, Iowa. She graduated from college with a two year teaching degree, after which she taught in a one room country school. She went on to earn her four year degree at Iowa State at Ames. After graduating, she accepted a position at the University of Missouri at Columbia. Her second husband served 8 years as a Missouri House of Representative. Upon retiring in December 1975, Ina moved back to Storm Lake, Iowa to care for her parents. Her mom lived to be 105 and her dad lived to be 101. Ina became very active with all senior citizen activities and helped to open Storm Lakes first senior center. In 1981, Ina was presented with the Northwest Iowa’s Outstanding Older Iowan award. She proudly displays her plaque in her apartment.

Ina has been very active at the Villas at Sunny Acres, volunteering around the campus. In her free time she enjoys reading, especially historical romance, but also likes Colorado history.

Ms. Ida Mae made her grand debut in Texas on March 20, 1914 and is celebrating her 100th birthday this year!

Ms. Ida Mae

Ida is the youngest of seven children; she had three brothers and three sisters. Ida Mae worked as a nanny in her younger years. Then she transitioned to working as a housekeeper and cafeteria employee while she raised her own children.

Ida Mae is the proud mother of 7 kids, 6 sons and 1 daughter. According to her children, Ida Mae practiced tough love; no one got away with anything on her watch, but she was a good mom who raised good kids. Much of her life was spent going to church and raising her babies whom she loves very much.

Ida Mae has a wicked sense of humor, is strong willed and loves to sing. If there’s no music playing (and sometimes even when there is) Ida will make her own. Ida Mae was also an amazing baker in her day and loved to clean more than she loved to cook (although she’s very good at that too).

A celebration of Ida’s 100 years will take place on March 19th with her friends at Morning Star Adult Day Program, and with family and friends on March 22nd. You only turn 100 once so you might as well celebrate it twice.