LYNN — Friends and family of lifelong Lynn resident and World War II veteran Mary Ostrowski gathered at St. Stephen’s Tower Apartments alongside the mayor and state delegation members Tuesday afternoon to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Each morning, Ostrowski wakes up, makes herself oatmeal, toast, orange juice, and just one cup of coffee. She said that she spends most of her days relaxing; she watches television, reads Danielle Steele novels and National Inquirer articles, and, from time to time, plays bingo. On the surface, Ostrowski’s routine resembles one similar to any other fully-independent senior citizen. Her life; however, is far from ordinary.
Ostrowski, the daughter of Polish immigrants, was born in Lynn Nov. 22, 1922. She grew up on Neptune Street with her nine siblings.
In 1945, when her six brothers joined the armed services, Ostrowski, who was working as an airplane mechanic for General Electric at that time, followed in her brothers’ footsteps and enlisted in the army.
After training in Georgia, Ostrowski, a member of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, was stationed at Cushing General Hospital in Framingham, where she tended to wounded soldiers as a surgical technician.
“I would take care of the wounded soldiers that came from the war. That was kind of traumatic to work with the soldiers, they were badly hurt, had been shot,” Ostrowski said. “A lot of them were permanently injured.”
After serving, Ostrowski went on to volunteer at a nursing home on Holyoke Street. She became the commander of the Polish Legion of American Veterans Post 54, where she served as chaplain. She joked that she keeps a list of her accomplishments for the person who writes her obituary.
In Washington, DC, Ostrwoski’s photo is posted on a wall inside the Military Women’s Memorial building. Although Ostrowski said that she never had the chance to see the D.C. memorial herself, she spoke at the opening ceremony for the Women’s monument at City Hall Square.
“I felt honored that I was able to take part in there and speak about the women veterans,” Ostrowski said.
Ostrowski’s daughter, Janet, described her mother as a kindhearted, funny, and hardworking woman, who balanced her volunteer work with running a card store downtown and raising three children.
“As children, mom always worked. So from service to nursing homes. She also owned a card and gift shop on Market Street near City Hall Square quite a while ago,” Janet Ostrwoski said.“We had to help my dad prepare dinner because you know, she wasn’t home until the store closed at five o’clock, whatever it was. When dad worked at GE the seven to three shifts, so he was always home, and we were always peeling potatoes or something in preparation for dinner.”
Ostrowski, her daughter said, volunteered for veterans organizations well into her 80s before she retired. After being asked what it felt like to turn 100, she referenced “Sto lat,” a traditional Polish birthday song and phrase that means “live ‘till 100,” joking that for the first time, the saying would be factual.
“I didn’t expect to have a birthday party. When I was told, I was so surprised. I’m kind of anxious now to have the party with how many friends I have,” Ostrowski said. “Whenever we say happy birthday, well, we end with “Sto lat,” that means ‘may you live to be 100 years [old]. Well…”
When asked what advice she could provide to the Item’s readers, Ostrowski said that she wants people to love and respect one another, and to live one day at a time.
“ I really just live one day at a time and thank God that I woke up in the morning,” Ostrowski said.
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at [email protected]
