Ann Schroeter was trying to figure out who was president when she was born when someone at the Bethany Health Care and Rehabilitation Center suggested Roosevelt.

“Which one? The younger one or the older one?” Schroeter asked, referring to Franklin Delano and Theodore, respectively.

The answer is the “older” one. Theodore was president when Schroeter was born Feb. 16, 1904.
Schroeter celebrated her 105th birthday Monday at Bethany, 3298 Resource Parkway, surrounded by Bethany residents, staff and three special guests: DeKalb Acting Mayor Kris Povlsen, State Sen. J. Bradley Burzynski and State Rep. Robert Pritchard.

Schroeter signifies what would have been unthinkable in 1904 when U.S. life expectancy was 47 years of age. Schroeter, by the way, was 47 in 1951.

After the crowd sang “Happy Birthday,” Burzynski and Pritchard awarded Schroeter with resolutions from the Illinois Senate and House, respectively, to “commemorate her life, commemorate her 105 years,” Pritchard said.

“105 years: What a wonderful legacy and something we can all aspire to,” Povlsen said. “It’s exciting.”

Residents of the facility, some donning party hats, enjoyed cake and listened to music while chatting about one of their favorite people.

“She’s a wonderful lady. We love Ann. We enjoy eating our meals with her,” said Bethany resident Alice Vance, pointing out that Schroeter used to be a cook herself. “If she doesn’t like the food, she’ll tell you. She’ll tell them how to cook it.”

Mary Marshall, who wore a party hat during the festivities, is Schroeter’s roommate.
“She’s a good roommate,” Marshall said. “She’s got a perfect mind yet.”

That she does. Schroeter discussed how she used to be an avid reader and how she was disappointed that her son couldn’t attend because he injured himself.

“Very nice,” Schroeter said of Monday’s festivities. “I thought all the parties were over.”

Kim Zamora, admissions and marketing coordinator for Bethany, said that while Bethany has a few residents who are 100 years old, only one is 105.

“She told me that her secret was she had a lot of fresh vegetables in Austria, and her mother always made the best quality food,” Zamora said.

Austria is where Schroeter spent much of her early life. She moved in to Bethany Dec. 23, 2007. Before that, she lived in West Chicago: at home.

“Ann is very opinionated. She knows what she wants,” Zamora said. “She has a lot of friends in the facility. Everybody likes her.”

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