Goldie Holbrook is a quiet little lady with a warm eyes and a big smile.
But when Humboldt General Hospital announced her 100th birthday on Wednesday, July 18, the community was anything but quiet.
Well wishes poured in from all over Winnemucca and Paradise Valley, where
Goldie lived for much of her life. Friends and neighbors shared many beautiful
sentiments as well as fun memories from Goldie’s past.
As one friend remembered, Goldie was the switchboard operator in Paradise
for many years. “What a collection of stories you could tell,”
she reminded Goldie.
Wednesday, Goldie’s friends at the Harmony Manor Skilled Nursing
and Residential Care Community sang a robust “Happy Birthday”
to her over a beautiful cake celebrating the day, to which Goldie responded,
“Thank you. I’m 100 years old today! Thanks everybody.”
Harmony’s activities team of Robin Moore and Lori Billows also took
up a collection from the staff to purchase 100 balloons for the occasion.
“They think the world of her,” said Moore of staff members.
Moore said even as a centenarian, Goldie still has plenty of “get
up and go,” moving around with her walker.
“She loves to be with groups,” said Moore, noting how supportive
Goldie is of the other residents and the staff’s activities. But
Moore said Goldie’s greatest loves are her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“She loves being with them and talking about them,” said Moore.
Certainly Goldie’s sentiments are shared. As one great granddaughter
said on the hospital’s Facebook page: “Happy Birthday to the
greatest grandma I’ve been blessed to have.”
It’s not often that a Harmony resident reaches the 100-year milestone,
said Moore. “But when one does, we make a big deal out of it.”
She added, “That’s a lot of history to celebrate and, in the
case of Goldie, a lot of loving and caring; she’s a special lady.”