Overcoming Adversity is Nothing New for Woman Turning 106

She’s feisty, positive, articulate and doesn’t look a day over 80; but Lottie Rhoades is turning 106 on Tuesday, August 25. She will celebrate a life full of love, losses and accomplishments among friends at Friendship Village, the Mayor of Schaumburg and a representative from the local school district, who will bestow an honorary high school diploma on this charming lady.

Lottie Rhoades was born on her grandfather’s homestead in the rural area of Arcadia, Kansas. “My mother, Judith Lena, had nine children; I was the third child. We lived on the homestead which was inherited by my father, Carl Kalm. Father worked for EI DuPont where he handled high explosives for mining.” Life was good until a terrible tragedy took place. “My father was plowing the fields for our garden with a team of horses when he hit a root of a walnut tree which jerked him backwards and broke his back. Father lingered for a while, but died and was buried on Good Friday the eve before my 8th grade graduation ceremony.”

Life changed for the Kalm family with new responsibilities. “EI DuPont offered my mother the job of distributing high explosives after my father passed. She did this for 27 years and raised 9 children.” Lottie could not return to school; she had to stay home to help raise the other children.

Lottie and her husband, coal miner, Claude Rhoades, had two boys Carl William and Benjamin Jess. The family moved to Melrose Park in the early 30’s. The next move was to Maywood where they bought a little house and made it their home for 40 years. During this time, Lottie worked in a factory where she inspected panel boards for airplanes and later jets. She also taught Sunday school and helped start the Melrose Park Bible Church. She retired at the age of 70.

Rhoades has always kept busy with friends, church services, activities and entertainment, but her pet project is crocheting hats for Operation Shoebox which is a humanitarian outreach of the Oasis Network. Rhoades has crocheted nearly 600 hats for poor and underprivileged children. A little over three years ago, Lottie fell and broke the upper part of her right arm. Her doctor told her that setting the arm or having surgery would not make a difference in the use of her arm. So for the past three years, with her arm still broken, Lottie continues making hats for these impoverished children. “I can move my right hand somewhat and can maneuver a crochet hook to make hats for the children. I had to become left-handed, but I don’t mind. I’m just happy to help other people.”

What does Lottie Rhoades attribute to her longevity? Her response is: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” which she quotes from Proverbs 3: 5-6. “And, I also recommend a lot of fresh garden vegetables!”

Friendship Village is the largest continuting care retirement community in Illinois and 15th largest in the United States.  It is fully-accredited with housing for independent, assisted or skilled nursing home living.  IVY Marketing Group is honored to serve Friendship Village since 1995.   To view the highlights of Lottie's celebration, visit:  www.youtube.com/watch.

Technorati Tags: IVY Marketing; Friendship Village; 106 year old