Kathleen G. French of Fairhope, Alabama celebrated her 100th birthday on January 6th 2010 with two parties, one held on her birthday at Carroll Place and the other the following Saturday at the Holiday Inn Express.

Recently Kathy Elberg hosted a centenarian celebration at Carroll Place, a Mercy Medical assisted living community, in honor of her mom Kathleen G. French of Fairhope, Ala. On January 6, 2010, French celebrated her 100th birthday with family, friends and the staff of Carroll Place, where French has resided for more than 3 years.

French was born in Lansing, Michigan and is the only living sibling of six children. She married John Norman French in 1931 and relocated to Phoenix Arizona in 1947. French has four daughters, Kathy Elberg of Fairhope, and Jean Sanders, Peggy Lillrose and Mary Woods of Phoenix, Arizona. French also has 16 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and 18 soon to be 19 great-great grandchildren. At 100 years, Kathleen maintains tremendous health, wit and never fails to give God credit for looking out for her. According to French, who was born in 1910, “the key to living 100 years is to give God credit and never get angry.” Her daughter would agree with that. “Another secret to life is to keep a continuous curiosity for current events, and keep your mind working with crossword puzzles and scrabble,” explained French. "Mom loves to be told she is spectacular and that she is,” said Elberg.

French’s family hosted a second birthday party on Saturday, January 9 at the Holiday Inn Express in Fairhope. More than 50 family members and friends traveled a combined 66,500 miles, more than two and a half times around the world or 1/4 the distance to the moon, to celebrate with her.

Carroll Place is located in Fairhope at 50 Spring Run Road. For more information, please call 251-928-5555 or go online at mercymedical.com/CarrollPlace.