Clara Hendy has her good days and bad days. Like other residents at Arden Courts assisted living facility in Monroeville, her memory is not what it used to be.
Her son Neel had to remind her that Thursday is her birthday.
Not just that, though — it is her 100th birthday — and Arden Courts has declared it Clara Hendy Week in her honor.
“She’s an absolute darling,” said Jeanni Watson, memory care advisor at Arden Courts.
Hendy was born Feb. 3, 1922. She graduated from Schenley High School in 1940 before marrying her husband, Raymond, in 1944.
“They were living in the Hill District when I was born, but when I was 1, we moved out to Penn Hills,” said Neel, who still lives in Penn Hills today.
The Hendys loved traveling, and over the years they visited Brazil, Vietnam, Russia and Newfoundland.
Hendy worked at Sears until her retirement, but also spent some time volunteering.
“She worked at Forbes Hospital and the Penn Hills Senior Center at the desk, taking phone calls,” Neel said.
In her spare time, Hendy was active in a bowling league. She played golf and shuffleboard well into her late 80s.
Hendy said she is most proud of having lived “an honest life,” relying on her family — which includes three children, six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren — to see her through difficult times in life.
After cake and a party at Arden Courts on Wednesday, Hendy relaxed in the afternoon with a visit from her son, who’s making plans for another get-together this weekend.
“We’re going to take her to DeNunzio’s for a family-and-friends party in their private room,” he said.
