Set to turn 100 years old on Friday, Abbey Densmore says a birthday in lockdown is unlike any other he has experienced in all of his years.
Reached by video chat in his home at Chartwell Royal on Gordon Retirement Residence, Densmore said he always knew he could one day be turning 100. His cousin Clifford lived until the age of 104 and Densmore’s father Adam lived to 94.
“The Densmores have been known to live to an advanced age, so I knew it was a possibility,” he said.
One of six children, Densmore was born in 1920 and grew up during the Great Depression. He said some of the lines for food and supplies remind him of that difficult time in his life.
“You would see the line ups all the way down the street,” said Densmore. “How it ends up this time we will just have to see.”
Densmore said he has never seen anything like the lockdown we are all experiencing in response to COVID-19, but notes that he is holding up well and has everything he needs as he shelters in place.
He does miss playing cards with his friends, which isn’t possible in person until the lockdown restrictions are over, said his daughter, Mary Brohman.
“He misses his bridge games and his euchre games,” she said.
Densmore gave up driving only last year and lived in his house up until 2016.
“He decided he was going to leave on his terms, so he was able to pack up his own house,” she said.
A stone mason by trade, Densmore switched to general construction when tastes in the industry changed.
“It used to be that buildings all had stone foundations, but after the war they changed it to concrete,” said Densmore.
He said a well-built stone foundation can last just about forever and time will tell how much longevity newer concrete buildings will have.
Almost 50 years ago, Densmore retired as one of the first trustees for the Wellington County Roman Catholic Separate School Board, which eventually became the Wellington Catholic District School Board.
He had stayed on for the transition from a previous separate school board which amalgamated with others into the Wellington County Roman Catholic Separate School Board.
All six of Densmore’s children attended separate schools in Guelph and currently seven of his his 14 great grandchildren attend school at St. Ignatius, while one other great grandchild goes to school at Bishop Macdonell.
On Monday, the board wished him happy birthday and recognized him for his service as part of Catholic Education Week and the Ontario Catholic Trustees’ Association’s 90th anniversary. Due to restrictions, Densmore was unable to attend but received a letter of recognition in the mail.
Densmore said he appreciates the recognition for his service on the board, which ended in 1971.
Brohman said her niece, Densmore’s granddaughter, made a scrapbook to mark the birthday, which the family will have to celebrate at a later date.
“She called it ‘100 Trips Around the Sun’ and I thought, ‘that’s it in a nutshell,’” said Brohman.
