Story originally printed in the Westby Times or online at www.westbytimes.com
Published - Monday, June 16, 2008
Still in the pink after 94 years
At the age of 94, Elva Thomas was definitely in the pink after her loving family delivered 94 pink roses to her at Norseland Nursing Home in Westby for her birthday on May 30. Thomas was especially grateful to be able to stop and smell her huge bouquet of roses after doctors informed her family only weeks earlier that the beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother had only days to live after suffering a heart attack on April 18.
Doctors were so convinced Thomas wouldn’t survive that they told her family she’d never leave the hospital and they’d never seen anyone survive a heart attack of that magnitude, let alone a woman who was nearly a century old.
Thomas on the other hand is one feisty little lady, barely over five feet tall, but full of spit and vinegar. Born on May 30, 1914, Thomas resides in Norwalk. She married Earl (Pete) Thomas in 1932 and together they raised seven children, five of which are still living and two who have passed away. Her husband of 54 years died in 1987, leaving Thomas the matriarch of the clan. Today she has 19 living grandchildren, but has regrettably lost two. Her offspring have also provided her with five great-great-grandchildren and at least 25 grandchildren, but according to Thomas that number might be slightly off since she may have lost count.
Thomas misses her husband whom she would have celebrated her 76th wedding anniversary with this year, but she’s grateful to still be kicking and keeping her children in line. She was literally flabbergasted to receive the huge bouquet of roses, which was the talk of the nursing home.
“Pink and purple are my favorite colors and these roses are the most beautiful pink I’ve ever seen,” Thomas said as she smelled one of the flowers.
The flowers were sent by the Thomas family, but were ordered through Mabel’s on Main in Cashton. Of course it pays to have connections, since Deb Hundt, the owner of the flower shop, is Thomas’ granddaughter and told her grandmother that every one of the roses was sent with love.
“She told me the entire family wanted to get me something special and that I deserved to be showered with love. It made me cry, but happy at the same time,” Thomas said.
Thomas was still tickled pinks days after the flowers arrived, although she wasn’t quite sure how she was going to get them home when she checked out of Norseland last week.
Thomas was due to be released from the care facility on June 5th. Her recovery at the age of 94 has been remarkable and she couldn’t be more pleased with the care she received at Norseland. Besides the fact that while staying at Norseland she had ample opportunity to visit with three generations of her family. Thomas’ daughter, Beth Cary is the Dietary Administrator at Norseland, her granddaughter Ann Miller is a CNA at the nursing home and her great- granddaughter, Samantha Miller, works in the kitchen.
“They all made sure I got healthy and took excellent care of me. The treat was seeing my family on a daily basis, but as wonderful as that is I’m ready to go home,” Thomas said.
Thomas is ready to get moving again without someone hovering over her. She’s ready to play cards with her friends and catch up on her reading, quilting, gardening, sewing and all the things which have kept her around for over nine decades. Overall Thomas has lived a healthy life, free of major problems, something she is thankful for everyday.
“I just keep on breathing. It works she said so why change it now.” She knows she can’t live forever, but she beat the odds at the age of 94, so don’t count her out even if she’s down, or that’s one bet you might just lose.
All stories copyright 2006 Westby Times and other attributed sources.