105 and counting! Woman born on Fourth of July celebrates milestone birthday

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Thursday might be the Fourth of July, but it’s also a milestone birthday for a resident of the Hurlbut Nursing Home in Rochester.

Helen Bradshaw was born on July 4th, 1919. Thursday, she will celebrate her 105th birthday.

Gio: Tell me how excited you are to be celebrating your birthday!

Helen : Very good. Very happy.

Wednesday at the Hurlbut, family and friends took over the main room to put up decorations and celebrate Helen with cake. Her son, Thomas and granddaughter Michelle helped organize festivities and told me she’s not the only family member who has reached this milestone.

“My grandmother told me that she had an uncle that lived to be 110, and I did not believe it for one minute, but now I believe it,” Helen’s son, Thomas said.

And it does not stop there:

“She also has a sister that’s 103,” Michelle Kostick, Helen’s granddaughter said.

It’s been a life well lived. Michelle told News 8 Helen has moved around a lot during her life, and only came to the nursing home a few years back.

Michelle attributes a long life to always looking on the brightside.

“She’s always very happy. She always saw the positive side of things,” Michelle said. “She always focused on that and not the bad side of things. The glass was always half full, as far as she’s concerned.”

Helen however attributes it a bit differently.

Gio: What’s the secret?

Helen: Good healthy food. Keep busy. And I like chocolate!

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