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Century Club: Laughter the secret to long life
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Margaret Veneri Grove had to grow up fast. Now in her second century, she's growing wiser. She says the secret to a long life is to be happy and laugh often.

She was born on Aug. 28, 1905, in Dillies Bottom, Ohio. At age 14, she married a coal miner, Joe Veneri, and they had four children: Kay Hamilton of Virginia Beach, Va.; John Veneri of Monroeville; and Clara Price and Tino Veneri, both deceased.

In 1936, she and her family moved to East Pittsburgh, and Mr. Veneri worked at Westinghouse Airbrake. After they divorced, she married Melvin Grove in 1944 and lived in Wilkinsburg. After his death, she moved to California in the early 1970s and married Gene Bidgeon. When he died in 1984, she moved in with her son in Monroeville. Mrs. Grove now lives in ManorCare in Monroeville.

A longtime crocheter, Mrs. Grove made afghans and doilies for anyone who asked. These days, she's one of the "Golden Girls," chatting and people-watching with friends Mildred and Lena. She has 14 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren. She and about 20 friends and family celebrated her birthday Saturday at ManorCare.

Boy next door

Irene Rose Terhorst didn't quite marry the boy next door, but it was close. She was 19 when she married Joseph Terhorst, who lived nearby in the upper Hill District. They were married for 72 years until his death in 2000.

On Thursday, Mrs. Terhorst will celebrate her 100th birthday. She was born on Aug. 30, 1907, and married on July 27, 1927. She worked for a time as a store detective at department stores in Downtown. The couple had two daughters, Dolores Pogranzni of Whitehall and Arlene Krepley of Baldwin Borough.

Mrs. Terhorst has six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Some will join her for a birthday celebration at Baldwin Health Center, where she now lives.

To be included, send the honoree's biographical information and your phone number to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Century Club, Attn: Kevin Kirkland, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. Fax: 412-263-1313. E-mail: kkirkland@post-gazette.com.



First published at PG NOW on August 27, 2007 at 5:41 pm
If you or a friend or a relative recently turned 100 or will soon do so, the Post-Gazette would like to hear from you. On an occasional basis, the Magazine will feature short stories on people marking their 100th year.