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Bright and Beautiful Jessie Bodnar Turns 104
Bright and Beautiful Jessie Bodnar Turns 104
Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent
This milestone 104th birthday celebration was hosted by Jessie’s family at Homestead Senior Citizens Lodge in Vegreville on April 29.
When Jessie was asked what she credited for living this long, she replied, “I don’t feel like I am 104. I looked after myself and ate healthy foods. I have a nice family and some good friends. But mostly I think I lived so long because I never drove a car and liked to walk a lot. Homestead Lodge is a nice place to live. The people are all nice and we get along well.”
Jessie’s daughter, Donna Zaozirny admitted that her mother is special because she was always there when her children needed her. “Right now at 104, she still remembers her great-grandchildren Jackson and Hannah Zaozirny’s birthday who are four and two.
I credit her longevity to the fact that she never smoked. Then she lived at this lodge for nine years and the staff has been fabulous. Maybe she has lived long because she has a good environment where she has flourished.”
Jon Zaozirny added that everything was special about his grandmother. “She is just a kind soul and has been such a rock in our lives. She hasn’t aged in 30 years.
I believe she lived so long because she never had a mean bone in her body.”
Some brief notes written in an article submitted by Donna Zaozirny in the Vegreville News Advertiser were: Jessie was the youngest of 13 siblings. Her parents immigrated to Canada from Ukraine in 1901 and started their family on the Babysh Homestead property north of Innisfree. Jessie grew up on the family farm. With her brother’s assistance, Jessie moved to Myrnam to seek employment.
It was at the New Year’s Eve celebration in December 1946 that she met Frank Bodnar.
Frank, a local Myrnam resident, had been stationed in England in World War II, and when he returned he was offered the Postmaster position there.
Jessie and Frank were married on July 29, 1947, and settled in Myrnam. They had two daughters, Edith and Donna. For several years, Jessie stayed home raising the girls; however, as they grew older and started school, Jessie commenced working part-time at the Post Office in Myrnam.
In the early 1980’s, both Frank and Jessie retired from the Post Office and continued to enjoy retirement in Myrnam. In November 1984, Jessie and Frank were blessed with a grandson, Jonathan Michael Zaozirny. In November 1991, Frank passed away and Jessie continued living in Myrnam for an additional year.
Jessie moved to Vegreville in 1992 where she knew many past acquaintances.”
