Milligan Staff Help Beulah Meloche Turn 109 in Style

CNAs Brook Duprey and Amber Evans help Beulah Meloche open gifts at a party thrown in her honor on Monday.

Milligan Staff at RiverLedge Help Beulah Meloche Turn 109 in Style

OGDENSBURG – When Beulah Meloche was born on Nov. 23, 1909 World War I was still five years away, the Great Depression hadn’t happened yet and there was no such thing as television, let alone say the internet.

Ms. Meloche, who resides at United Helpers RiverLedge campus turned 109 Monday and the staff on the Milligan Neighborhood, where she lives, made sure it was a day to remember.

Milligan Neighborhood Nurse Manager Adrienne Danenberger said the party, which was supposed to be a surprise, took about a month to plan.

“It was supposed to be a surprise, but she’s very savvy. Since we had to decorate she saw us decorating, knew it was her birthday and put two and two together, but she didn’t know to what extent we had gone,” Ms. Danenberger said.

The party included a fully decorated dining room with balloons and streamers, music, a cake donated by Price Chopper and several gifts including clothing, lotions, a plush blanket, pens, notebooks and a wide variety of candy.

“It was an honor for us to put this on for her,” Ms. Danenberger said, noting Ms. Meloche is one of the most independent people in the building.

“She does exercises every day and she walks herself to breakfast lunch and dinner every day,” said Certified Nursing Assistant Amber Evans. “We really don’t have to do much for her.”

Certified Nursing Assistant Brook Duprey said she felt like turning 109 was an occasion that merited going the extra mile.

“We love all of our residents, but when you’re turning 109 I think that deserves a party,” she said.

After opening her gifts Ms. Meloche clapped in excitement as a birthday cake with the number 109 on it was presented to her. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” she said of the cake, which was decorated with pink flowers.

Following an afternoon of excitement, Ms. Meloche retreated to her room to relax before dinner and reflect on the afternoon.

“The party was so nice,” she said. “It was good, beautiful gifts. Oh my goodness!”

 Ms. Meloche grew up in Plattsburgh and has lived at RiverLedge since 2011. She never had any children. In addition to Milligan Neighborhood staff, her lone surviving family member is a niece who lives outside the area.