When Dan O’Sullivan, a 100-year-old resident of St. Patrick’s Home, first saw his niece who came from Ireland to surprise him at the Home’s Centennial Celebration on June 18, he cried out, “Oh, thank you, Lord,” and rose to greet her. Both of their eyes were filled with tears as they embraced.

His niece, Mairead Stringer, is a kind of surrogate daughter, since O’Sullivan has no children of his own. Originally from Cork, the second largest city in Ireland, O’Sullivan came to the United States when he was 47, and worked as a taxi and limousine driver.

“He was looking forward to being 100. It kept him alive,” Stringer told the Norwood News of her uncle. “He’s living. He’s brilliant.”

For these residents, who bore witness to the Great Depression, Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War, 9/11, and the Great Recession of 2008, it was a moment to pause and look back. The same can be said for St. Patrick’s Home, the 78-year residence that since 2002 has held a joint birthday party for its residents that have reached the age of 100 or older.

“It’s a wonderful celebration of life,” Sister Diane Mack told the Norwood News. “Just because they live in residency doesn’t mean they’re not part of the community.”

With cake, wine, and beer, St. Patrick’s Home honored 11 seniors, the eldest of them being 106. The gathering occurred in St. Joseph Hall, and the party was vibrant and full of life. One resident was seen pushing her wheelchair with her feet, her hands occupied with two cups of wine. The hall was decorated with cheery green and yellow balloons and red, white, and blue butterflies hung from the ceiling.

In unison, the crowd proudly sang ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘God Bless America,’ and joy could be seen on the faces of everyone in the room.

Another centenarian of St. Patrick’s Home, Willie Mae Trimble, turned 100 on March 10. Originally from Jackson, Georgia, Trimble migrated to the Bronx with her husband 72 years ago. During her youth, Trimble worked as a nurse’s aid for 24 years and spent much of her time sewing. She has been attending Walker Memorial Baptist Church at 120 E. 169th Street for over 60 years, and says that the secret to a long life is to “trust in the Lord.”

A lot has changed since Trimble was a young girl. “We have better opportunities to speak and not get punished,” she said of today’s society.

As the centennial celebration slowly came to a close, residents gingerly danced to the live music, and O’Sullivan sat, smiling wide, with his family.