Florence C. Griggs celebrated her 100th birthday on June 12, 2004. She was born to Edward and Anna Marie (Calas) Schroeder in New York City.
Her family moved to North Bergen, N.J., where she lived until her marriage to John Griggs in Messiah Lutheran Church on Dec. 27, 1925. John's work took them to Washington, D.C., to New York City and then back to north Jersey. They had two children: John S., Seminole, and Dorothy Sigler, Westwood, N.J.
Florence worked, first as a sales promoter for Lister Brothers Co. in New York City and then for a number of surgeons and orthodontists as bookkeeper and receptionist.
John died in November 1977 in Oakland, Bergen County, N.J.
A lifelong Lutheran, Florence was always active in church groups, the altar guild, teaching Sunday School, etc. She also was an active member of the Parent Teacher Association and Cub and Girl Scouts. Her son reports that she also took in children in need of a place to live, often for months at a time.
She has been an avid gardener, reader, worker of crossword puzzles and card player. That she has made many quilts for hospitalized children attests to her caring nature.
She has eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
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Lena Tivey Dionne, who was born in Lynn, Mass., in 1893, celebrated her 111th birthday on June 14. She was the third child of five born to James and Isabella (Butterick) Tivey. Lena remembers growing up and working with her father in a patent leather shoe factory in Lynn. Her job was to fill in any nicks in the shoes as they came through the line.
She married Felix Dionne on Nov. 20, 1909, in Lynn, Mass. He was also in the shoe business. They had one son, George F.
The Dionnes moved to New Hampshire when Felix retired and then moved again in 1963 to St. Petersburg to be near their son and his wife, Marion.
Lena is a longstanding member of Clearview United Methodist Church and has been an active member of Ladies Circle Two.
Felix died a few years after the move to Florida.
Lena is still a reader, both of the St. Petersburg Times and romance novels. She insists that her three meals a day and her reading habits - without glasses - keep her alive. And while she says she enjoys all food, she does have a soft spot for chocolate.
When asked recently what she would like to do again, she replied, "If I could, it would be to go roller skating."
- We think that living 100 years is worth our taking notice. If you or a family member is about to celebrate a 100th birthday or more, please let us know. Include the following information: the person's full name, date of birth, place of birth, parents' names (including mother's maiden name) if known, name of spouse (if applicable), marriage date, names of children and number of grandchildren (if applicable), length of time the person has lived in this area and a phone number in case we have questions. Also, please include a photo that doesn't need to be returned. We'll publish the information as close to the birthday as possible. Send the information to 100-year Birthdays, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731-1121 or fax to (727) 893-8675.
