Norma Bagnall was 100 years old, still living on her own, shoveling snow from her driveway and driving in Holyoke, Massachusetts. A fall and a broken hip brought her to Dugan Memorial Home in West Point, to be close to her son, Laird and his wife, Dew.
Bagnall was born Nov. 12, 1916, and was celebrating her birthday, she turned 102 yesterday {printed earlier} at Dugan.
"We had invited her to come and live close to us in Columbus for years," Dew White, Bagnall's daughter-in-law said. "She didn't think she could stand the heat down here. But she has been here for a year and a half and she is doing great."
White said her husband drives to West Point to visit his mother a couple of times a week and she comes to their home every Sunday.
"Everyone asks us what is her secret to longevity?" White said. "Because she only takes one pill a day. Her mind is still sharp and she doesn't want to slow down. She was still skiing at 77. She loves skiing after she turned 70 because she could ride the lift for free. She was always very active in her community. She is still very curious and loves learning. I think that plays a big part in why she's still here."
White said her mother-in-law had lost weight after she fell, but they are feeding her well at Dugan and she has gained 15 pounds.
Bagnall was skiing from age 4 to age 77, in western Massachusetts. Her daughter Noreen and her husband Joe Roberts still live in Massachusetts. She has a sister, Georgene Zimmerman who also lives in Massachusetts.
"I lived between North Hampton and Springfield in Massachusetts," Bagnall said. "It is beautiful with the changing of the seasons. The trees are gorgeous this time of year. But I really looked forward to the snow and to skiing. We lived close to the slopes so that's what we did in the winter. We threw snowballs and built igloos out of snow."
She said she taught her children to ski, starting on the Bunny Hill and working their way up to the slopes. She always made sure they had their names with them in case they got lost. But they never did.
"I attended the University of Massachusetts," Bagnall said. "I didn't graduate, but I did attend. I could have gone to Mt. Holyoke, a school for young women, that was also close by."
She said her son Laird was stationed at Columbus Air Force Base.
"He married a Mississippi girl and that's why I'm here," Bagnall said. "I like it here at Dugan. There is plenty to do and the food is really good. I plan to have several more birthdays if I can."