Rubye, Ruth, and Rose: Centenarian Sisters Share Their Secrets

By Jeremy Bloom
  We’re all constantly in search of the secrets to a long and healthy life — ways to extend our lives in order to spend more time with family, friends and loved ones. As we look to older generations who have led fulfilling lives, we are reminded of the importance of forging meaningful relationships and cherishing those closest to us.

Almost six years ago, I started Wish of a Lifetime (WOL), a non-profit with the mission of helping seniors realize their lifelong dreams. We have granted nearly 1,000 wishes to seniors in all 50 states. One of my favorite wishes is a 94-year-old WWII veteran’s wish to return to Normandy to put a "footprint in the sand" on same Omaha Beach where he landed on in 1944. We have also had our fair share of adrenaline junkies whose wishes were to skydive or learn to fly a plane, and one even asked for a private lesson with the Rockettes. Through our partnership with Brookdale, a provider of senior living solutions and our founding corporate sponsor, we have extended our mission of enriching the lives of seniors by granting wishes across the country.

Rose’s Wish: A Reunion With Her Sisters
A few weeks ago, we met three sisters who were blessed with the gift of longevity when we granted the wish of 101-year-old Rose Shloss (right) to reunite with her sisters - 110-year-old Rubye Cox (middle) and 104-year-old Ruth Branum (left) – after spending 10 years apart in different parts of the country.

At the sisters’ reunion, Ruth told me, "This is the best day of my life, I feel like Cinderella!"

Think about the history these three women have lived through: The Great Depression, World War II, Pearl Harbor, and the first person landing on the moon, along with discoveries and inventions like indoor plumbing, washing machines, telephones and electricity.
"We had a telephone, a three-party line that was a box hanging on the wall in the dining room. We had to ring when we needed the operator to call a number for us. Quite a change from our communication today," said Ruth. "Our first car was a Model T Ford. I was probably 9 or 10. No longer did we have to depend on a horse and buggy for transportation. We learned to find things to entertain ourselves — baseball, croquet, hopscotch. Occasionally we went to a movie for 10 or 15 cents. The first movie actor I can remember was Rudolph Valentino. He played in

The Sheik (1921) and The Sheik’s Son (1926). We lived very simple lives, nothing like the fast pace of today."

Follow the Sisters’ Advice
 "The odds of reaching 110 are about one in 7 million," according to Karl Pillemer, MD, a Cornell University gerontologist. "If you add the fact that the three sisters are all currently more than 100 years old, the odds are so incredibly small that it would even be difficult to calculate them."

When we discussed the keys to leading a long and fulfilling life, all three sisters agreed that you should work and keep active. "I would rather wear out than rust out!" said 104-year-old Ruth. They shared these longevity tips with us as well:
Love for others is imperative. Love your neighbor as yourself; forgive as you have been forgiven. Embrace new experiences and meeting new people.
Learn to cook for yourself and eat healthy food.
Have a curious mind and develop a love for reading. Relish in studying and learning.
Pursue your goal in life and give it your best. With drive and ingenuity, there is no limit to what you can do. The sisters reflected on the monumental changes in modern society and opportunities for women’s advancement, bearing witness to the pivotal changes in gender roles, from women’s suffrage to the Civil Rights Movement and "leaning in."
"There is no stigma on women working no matter what the job — ditch digging for the city or CEO of a global company. With drive and ingenuity, there’s no limit to what a woman can do," said Rubye, 110.

"In today’s society, I would advise young women to get a college education first. Then pursue your goals and give it your all," added Ruth.
Rubye, Ruth, and Rose remind us to cherish those fleeting moments we have together, as we remember the importance of connectivity, maintaining relationships and spending time with those closest to us. Take a tip from these sisters: Marvel at the change in the world around you and take that extra moment to appreciate those near and dear to you every chance you have .
Thanx Jeremy

Witchy sez :
The biggest killer of older adults are being over-prescribed medications & put in old folks homes to die. You would be surprised at all the old folks dumped in those places never to see anyone they know ever again. Sad but true...............
I'd like to spend an afternoon with the amazing sister's and hear all of their many stories and advise.
Words of wisdom, no doubt!