The average life expectancy in the US today is 78.7 years. But don’t tell that to Annetta Bigley, a resident of Andrus on Hudson, a nonprofit senior-care community in Hastings on Hudson. On May 30, Annetta turned 107!
Residents of Andrus gathered in the community’s party room to share lemonade and cake in celebration of Bigley’s big day. Other friends were on-hand, too, including Margaret Gibbons and Joseph DiSalvo. Though there is a big age difference between the three friends, they have managed to stay as close as family. “Being with her makes me feel good. She is such a positive person,” said Gibbons, a resident of Hastings on Hudson who also brought her grandchildren to attend the birthday party. Sitting with Bigley at the party, DiSalvo reminisced on his old memories with her. “When Annetta turned 105, I asked her if she had any words of wisdom. She said, ‘No, darling.’ She always called me darling. She’s very sweet,” said DiSalvo.
Bigley was born Annetta Reid Humphries in New York City in 1906. She married Harold Bigley on February 23, 1935. Harold passed away in 1981. For many years, Annetta worked in Manhattan as a supervisor of an office staff. After that, she worked for the Hastings school system as an assistant to the superintendent. Annetta lived in the LaBaranca apartment building on Broadway in Hastings for 50 years, until the age of 95. In 2006, she returned to Hastings and moved to Andrus on Hudson, where she is now the oldest resident ever to live there, after living in Millwood for a few years.
As for reaching turning 107, Bigley was quite frank. “It feels strange,” she admitted. Well, we think it is amazing!
