Longtime Canby Resident Celebrates 101st Birthday with Family

August 23, 2021 by Canby First

While many aspects of daily life have returned to normal or, at least, what could be called a “new normal,” there are some things that still require a great deal more strategy and maneuvering than they once did.

Planning a birthday for a centenarian and long-term care resident is one of those things.

But, after having to celebrate a 100th birthday through a window and walkie-talkie last August, longtime Canby resident Irene Wolfe’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were determined to do whatever they could to ring in her 101st in person this year.

It happened in waves, with small groups of family members — all wearing masks — arriving throughout the day to visit and celebrate with the lady most of the youngsters still know as “Grape Nana” — a mispronunciation of “great-nana,” but also a reference to her habit of bringing bunches of the fruit to church every Sunday as a snack.

The oldest resident at Canby’s Marquis Hope Village, Irene was born on Aug. 22, 1920. She married Merrill Wolfe and raised two boys, Jay and Steve, in South Dakota before the family relocated to Beaverton.

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