Helen Austetter
Age: 102
Retired
“Slow down and enjoy life.”
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING YOUR AGE?
I love my age because I still feel good; I love living. I’ve got all my family; I live in a nice place, with many fun activities, and I have a lot of friends here.
WHAT HARDSHIPS HAVE YOU ENDURED THAT YOU FEEL HAVE MADE YOU STRONGER?
My parents passing away was difficult, and losing my husband. I knew he was going to pass away; he had cancer. I was worried about him leaving me with the kids, and he would say to me you’re tough; you always get along.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Well, I made it to 102.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?
I like wearing nice clothes, which have always been an extravagance. When I started school, my dad started his own business. He had two good years, and then we got hit by the Great Depression. We hardly had anything; we had groceries, and I never felt left out because the whole neighborhood was in the same boat. My mother didn’t have a sewing machine, but she went and bought the pattern and hand-stitched two dresses for me, and I wore them from September until my birthday in March. Then, I finally got a store-bought dress.
I loved Vogue and wedding magazines; I always loved fashion and fabrics. I learned how to make my own patterns and clothes, and they were nice; I looked good.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
My kids.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING YOU HAVE CHECKED OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST?
I traveled around the United States. When I was young, probably in my early 30s, I traveled with my sister from Sioux City to New York City. That was a good adventure.
Heaven is still on the bucket list.
WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?
Perfect happiness is contentment and enjoying life. Just be happy and enjoy what’s around you.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
I would tell my younger self to be strong. A lot happens in your life, happiness, and unhappiness. As you age, you’ll learn and realize that even though what you’re going through is tough right now, it’s not permanent. Usually, it’s not permanent, and it’s something you can get through.
DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR YOUNGER WOMEN?
I would tell younger women to enjoy life and see the goodness in everything. Don’t worry so much about if you’re right or what other people are thinking.
WHAT IS A TRAIT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?
I’m a kind person, I’m approachable, and I can get along with anyone.
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO OR FAVORITE QUOTE?
Slow down and enjoy life.
WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS?
To see a smile on their face and kindness in their heart. To have someone to laugh with.
HOW DID YOU CHANGE OVER THE YEARS?
Everybody changes throughout the years; I’m not the same person I was 20 years ago. You change as you age; you’ll mature and learn more about yourself and what’s important and not important. In life, you have good days and bad days. It makes you realize how important friendships and family are.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I would love to be younger; my favorite age was when I was in my 20s, the Roaring Twenties. That would have been the 1940s. I love everything about the music and that time of my life.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS?
I hope for my grandkids and great-grandkids that this country will be good and that there will be peace.
WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOY AT THIS AGE?
My family, I have a big family. Firstly, my children and I have eight grandkids and 13 great-grandkids.
WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?
I’m very intuitive; I study people when I interact with them. I am kind and have a lot of friends.
DO YOU LIKE BEING 40+?
Oh yes. I got married to my second husband around that time.
WHEN IN YOUR LIFE, SO FAR, HAVE YOU FELT MOST CONFIDENT, AND WHY?
I have always felt confident.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
Enjoy life, take care of the ones you love. I’ve been lucky; something good always happened whenever I got into a tight spot.
