Doris Krieger and Virginia “Ginny” Shafer commemorated their upcoming birthdays as well as being good friends and neighbors for more than 50 years.
By Amy Batista, Special Writer
FLORENCE Two Florence residents celebrated turning 100 this year during a party at the Florence Township Fire Department on June 11.
Doris Krieger and Virginia “Ginny” Shafer commemorated their upcoming birthdays as well as being good friends and neighbors for more than 50 years.
About 90 of their friends and family members attended the event.
”To know them is to love them,” said Linda Manukas, of Florence.
The Good Neighbors Senior Citizens of Florence Township, which has about 85 members, organized the party.
”You folks made a very strong commitment here today to honor these two ladies, and I’m grateful for you to do that,” Mayor Craig Wilkie said. “Florence Township is truly blessed by both of you.”
After those in attendance sang, “Happy Birthday,” Fran Tondi, president of Good Neighbors Senior Citizens of Florence Township, said, “May you stay healthy and always smiling as you are today and always. It’s been my pleasure to serve you.”
”I’m really surprised,” Ms. Shafer, who will turn 100 July 1, said about the party. “I really appreciate everything they have done for me.”
Ms. Krieger, who will turn 100 July 10, said, “All of our friends are very nice.”
Her two nieces, Jennifer Matthews and Joan Malseed, both of Florence, said their aunt is remarkable.
”She keeps very active, which is the key,” Ms. Malseed said.
Ms. Krieger remains independent and has lived in the same house for the past 70 years.
”I have a wonderful family and a lot of good friends,” Ms. Krieger said.
One of those good friends is Ms. Shafer. The two ladies live across an alley from each other and talk to each other every morning.
”She calls me every morning at eight o’clock to see if I am OK,” Ms. Krieger said, adding Ms. Shafer will call her niece if she does not answer.
Ms. Krieger lost her husband, Norman, after three years of marriage while he was fighting in World War II. He was in the Army.
”That’s why I never had a family,” Ms. Krieger said. “I wanted to have a family.”
Ms. Krieger filled that emptiness with her kindergarten and first-grade students at the Roebling Elementary School where she taught for more than 40 years.
”I had a lot of nice kids in school,” Ms. Krieger said, adding that some of her pupils were at the party.
According to Ms. Malseed, her aunt still can recall the names of her former students when she sees them.
Ms. Krieger used to have a beach house in Beach City, but now spends her spare time playing cards, Canasta and Pinnacle [mrh: Pinochle?: ]and reading. She also is very fond of her church, the Providence Presbyterian Church.
Ms. Shafer, who has lived in Florence for 72 years, said she has had a nice life.
”I can’t complain,” she said, adding she is surprised to have reached this milestone in her life.
Ms. Shafer was a nurse and her husband, Kenneth, was the town’s medical doctor. They had two children, Kenneth, who lives in Florida, and Virginia, who lives in Florence.
She used to enjoy needlework but now spends her spare time reading.
Providence Presbyterian Church Pastor Ivo Meilands, who has known both ladies for the past 15 years, said, “It’s an absolute pleasure to know Doris and Ginny. They have been very valuable assets and very lovable people since we have been there.”
Mayor Wilkie presented both women with a bouquet of flowers and reflected on how the town has changed in the past 100 years.
”When you think back to 1913, think about our community,” Mayor Wilkie said. “We were organized by the government in 1872. Prior to them, we were mostly part of Mansfield Township.”
According to Mayor Wilkie, the Fire Department building did not exist in 1913 when the whole area “was probably farmland.”
”The Village of Roebling was 8 years old at that point,” Mayor Wilkie said.
The factories that are now prominent icons in town were just getting started at that time.
”The little factories were sprouting up,” Mayor Wilkie said, referring to the shoe, shirt and steel mill factories in the area. “Now, here in 2013, the terms are not Roebling Steel and Hardy Wood. It’s Subaru and Burlington Coat Factory.”
Judith King, president of the Historical Society, said knowing the two ladies for quite a long time has been enjoyable for her.
”I think it’s a wonderful event,” Ms. King said about the party, adding “it is a historical occasion.”

