Long-time resident celebrates 100th birthday
COSHOCTON – Maxine Haas is very well loved by her family and friends, and that was proven last Saturday, Jan. 18 during her 100th birthday celebration at Canal Lewisville United Methodist Church. The dining hall at the church was filled with people, most who stopped by Maxine’s chair to wish her well and share a favorite memory and a few laughs.
Maxine’s philosophy in life is, “Hard work never hurt anybody.” And Maxine knows all about hard work. She was raised on a farm and remembers feeding the chickens, working the plow, and riding in a horse and buggy. She has lived in Coshocton County most of her life in the same house and has been a member of the church for 80 years. She is the oldest living member in the congregation.
Maxine is very proud of her family, and her three children have fond memories of growing up with her as a mother.
“She was always at home when we needed her,” said Bob Haas, Maxine’s oldest son, “She was always there when the family needed her. It was a very close family because we lived on a farm and worked together. We always sat down as a family for three meals a day.”
Although she doesn’t fix meals for her family now, only six years ago, Maxine was still cooking meals and baking goodies for her family.
“I always remember the good meals that she cooked,” said Carol Patterson, Maxine’s daughter.
In addition to cooking, Maxine loved to crochet. She made afghans and did some sewing and bead work as well.
“I remember her teaching me how to knit slippers,” said Patti, Maxine’s granddaughter. “She never liked to knit, but she taught us how to knit slippers.”
Although Maxine is a centenarian, she still lives at home independently with the help of her children and grandchildren. One of her earliest memories that she used to relate to her children is when she and her father drove to Canton in the early 1920s to see her great-grandmother and she saw her first traffic light.
Family and friends from all over the country came last Saturday to wish Maxine a happy 100th birthday including people from Michigan, New Hampshire, Illinois, Indiana, and North Carolina.
“Thank you to my family and all the folks that came out today,” she said.
beth@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: People & Places