Since birth, Margaret Derry and Marguerite Dahlmann have shared that special bond between identical twins.
It含羞草研究社檚 a link the sisters have enjoyed for 100 years.
Margaret and Marguerite were honoured with a special party in Vernon on Wednesday, Jan. 10, less than 24 hours before the pair officially became centenarians.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e been connected since Day 1,含羞草研究社� said Marguerite, who lives at a care home in Vernon, just a few kilometres away from her sister. Margaret resides with her surviving child, a daughter named Cookie.
Day 1 was Jan. 11, 1924, in Saskatoon. The sisters lived with their parents, Tony and Ida Willems, and two older brothers Carroll and Arthur (who have passed) on the Prairies before dad moved the family west to the Village of Lumby, where he found work as a a sawyer and millwright.
Margaret 含羞草研究社� the older of the twins by 10 minutes 含羞草研究社� and Marguerite attended school in Lumby. Like most twins, they got into some shenanigans with their looks.
含羞草研究社淲hen the opportunity arose to play a joke, we took advantage of it,含羞草研究社� laughed Marguerite. 含羞草研究社淲e used to change seats in school to fool the teachers.含羞草研究社澓卟菅芯可鐧
The sisters graduated high school in Lumby, and before marrying a soldier in Lumby 含羞草研究社� where Margaret was a bridesmaid 含羞草研究社� Marguerite attended McEwen College in Vernon, studying bookkeeping, accounting, and stenography.
The marriage broke up after several moves, and Marguerite found herself in Terrace, where she met a man named Fred Dahlmann while working in the office at a local sawmill. They married (Margaret was the matron of honour this time) and had a son, Dieter. They left Terrace because of the constant rain and returned to Lumby, where Dieter still lives.
Meanwhile, Margaret remained in the North Okanagan.
She married Bob Derry 含羞草研究社� Marguerite was living in Ontario at that time and could not be part of the wedding party 含羞草研究社� and the pair stayed in Lumby to raise their three kids.
含羞草研究社淚 helped out at home. I did a lot of community work in those days, volunteering for everything,含羞草研究社� said Margaret.
Ah yes. Volunteering.
It含羞草研究社檚 been at the heart of both sisters含羞草研究社� lives.
It含羞草研究社檚 one of the keys, Marguerite said, to making it to 100. Margaret has spent three-quarters of her life helping out around the community. Both have volunteered in the village for the United Church, Pythian Sisters and the Legion Ladies Auxiliary.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 just something you did,含羞草研究社� said Margaret matter of factly.
As the two blue-eyed siblings each enjoyed a piece of white cake with red frosting, they took a minute to reflect on what turning 100 means to them.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 surprised by it all, and grateful for my family,含羞草研究社� said Marguerite, who referred to Dieter as 含羞草研究社渕y backbone.含羞草研究社�
In identical twin fashion, Margaret gave the same answer, calling Cookie 含羞草研究社渕y saving grace.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e grateful we含羞草研究社檝e been able to enjoy 100 years,含羞草研究社� said Margaret. 含羞草研究社淭he quality of your life is far more important than the quantity. My family has kept me going.含羞草研究社�
The sisters received handmade birthday cards from three- and four-year-olds at a Vernon daycare centre, which touched their collective hearts.
Asked what she wanted for her birthday, Margaret joked and said loud enough for Cookie to hear, 含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 want to live with my daughter.含羞草研究社�
And Marguerite?
含羞草研究社淚 want to be 101. We含羞草研究社檒l be back next year,含羞草研究社� she said emphatically.
M and M are believed to be among only a handful of living identical twins aged 100 or more in the world. The oldest recorded living twin sisters turned 107 in Japan in 2021.
