Irene Alice Denault, 98-years-young, was born in Beverly, MA, in April 1908. Her parents were of French-Canadian descent from the Province of Quebec. She is the only survivor of three brothers and seven sisters. Muscular degeneration set in five years ago. She never married, but says she still looks for possibilities. She took driving lessons in her youth, but decided to leave the driving to the rest of the world, and never obtained her license. She can remember names and dates almost instantly.
Irene lived in Beverly for the first 18 years. After graduating from high school, she was hired by a woman who wanted a country girl she could train as a domestic. Throughout her career, until she retired in her 60's, she worked for several prominent families in various U.S. states as a nanny/governess. She had the opportunity to spend two years in France, England and Spain with one family, since the father's employment required him to open branches of an American biscuit company.
One of the children she tended to, Jebba Handley, is now a famous publisher for the Cape Codder newspaper in Chatham, MA. Irene was the governess for both Jebba and her sister in the 1930's for 14 years, and when Jebba married, Irene became the governess for Jebba's children for two years. With another family, she tended to children afflicted with the Fragile X Syndrome, of which Irene has a deep interest in, and was featured in a book on this subject authored by the mother of the children she took care of.
After retiring in her 60's, from the northern states, she moved to Florida. She has lived at Prospect Towers in Clearwater for the past 20 years, in a subsidized efficiency which she keeps very clean, and takes care of it all by herself. There is a palm tree outside her window that provides shade from the hot outside light, and she says when she looks at it, she visualizes herself on a tropical island.
Irene doesn't take prescription drugs. She believes in following the Naturopathic way in maintaining her health. She makes her own meat loaf and soups, loves Yogi teas, rarely eats desserts, and doesn't drink sodas. She was a smoker for 50 years but no longer smokes and doesn't drink alcohol. She loves to listen to the popular music of the 30's and 40's.
Her parents both passed away in their 60's, and Irene's natural health beliefs and outstanding positive attitude about life, has carried her to the age she presently is at. She walks the Pinellas County bicycle trail with her walker, and goes long distances. I am an avid bike rider, and I see her on the trail as well as many other surrounding streets of her residence. She has more energy than many people much younger than herself, and is never idle. She loves to play Bingo in the complex's recreation room, and despite her limitations, she would like to see line dancing taught at the complex. She has firmly stated, "I don't accept old age."
She attributes her longevity and good health to the Social Security system and Medicare, because she was allowed to retire in her 60's. She also is grateful for the recent 90's birthday party at Prospect Towers for the residents aged 90 and over, of which there were a dozen + in attendance.
Irene is truly an inspiration to me, and I feel fortunate to have made her acquaintance.