Cathy King, a resident of Harrington Court, Colchester, greeted a big milestone on February 5th. She turned 100 years old! Cathy is still spry and alert. It is hard to believe upon meeting her that she’s lived for a whole century.
Catherine was born on February 5, 1909 in Waterbury. “I lived a normal childhood,” she says, “playing hop scotch, hide and seek and spin the bottle.”
Catherine enjoyed spending time with her family. She grew up with six sisters and one brother. “My family and I played cards a lot to make the time go by,” Catherine remembers.
When Catherine met her husband Leo King, he lived in the same apartment building as she did. She remembers him being so well-dressed because his father had a clothing store. “He was the man for me, I knew the first time I saw him,” Catherine recalls.
Leo and Catherine married in a small, but beautiful wedding ceremony. They stayed in Waterbury where Leo worked at a meat market. Catherine kept busy working as a bookkeeper and later working at a greenhouse growing flowers and all different types of plants.
Catherine and Leo raised two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. When asked about what some of her greatest accomplishments are, Catherine says, “Raising my children, living one hundred years, and loving my grandchildren.”
To celebrate her 100th birthday, Catherine was honored with two huge parties. The mayor of Colchester came on her birthday to award her with a Proclamation for her milestone. She also received letters from the UConn Huskies Girl’s Basketball team, the Red Sox (Cathy’s favorite team), George and Barbara Bush, Jodi Rell, and she’s waiting for her letter from Barack Obama.
Catherine’s family also threw a party for her on the 7th. She was treated like a celebrity. There was jubilation the whole month of February for Harrington Court’s special lady and her amazing milestone. Happy 100th birthday Catherine!
