Two Longmont women are marking a rare milestone this week as they each celebrate their 100th birthdays surrounded by caregivers, family, and friends who have helped shape their life journeys.
Virginia, a palliative care patient at The Peaks Care Center, turned 100 on April 25. Dorothea VanLoo, a hospice patient at McIntosh Skilled Nursing Facility, celebrates her centennial today on April 28.
Both women are under the care of TRU Community Care, Colorado’s first hospice organization, which today serves more than 1,300 patients and participants across a range of programs. Their milestone birthdays have inspired a community effort to honor lives richly lived.
“These women have shown such strength, resilience and determination,” said Vanessa Schmautz, LCSW, a hospice social worker at TRU. “It takes a certain kind of personality to make it to 100, a bit of feistiness, a bit of stubbornness and a lot of spirit.”
At The Peaks, Virginia’s celebration included cupcakes, balloons, and plenty of smiles. Meanwhile, Dorothea’s special request — a steak dinner with fries and peas — will be fulfilled thanks to The Roost, a Longmont restaurant that donated the meal in her honor. She was also surprised to learn that her brother and sister-in-law, Gordon and Gloria, drove from Minnesota to celebrate with her, along with two nephews, two nieces-in-law, and a great-great-nephew.
When asked how it feels to turn 100, Dorothea smiled and said, “I don’t know the difference, I feel 69!”
Celebrating birthdays like these is a milestone not only for patients and families, but also for the caregiving community. “I think any hospice birthday is something to be celebrated,” Schmautz said. “People think hospice means giving up, but really it is about focusing on quality of life, making every day as meaningful and comfortable as possible… we’re helping people live, right up until the end.”
Both women’s paths to 100 reflect their resilience. Each even “graduated” from hospice care at one point, a rare occurrence where patients stabilize enough to no longer qualify for services. “It is something unique to both of them,” Schmautz said. “It is a testament to their strength.”
Virginia was born in 1925 in her grandmother’s house in Nashville, Arkansas. After graduating high school, she married Charles, her husband of 73 years. During World War II, she worked in Chicago while Charles served in the Navy. After the war, the couple moved west, raising two sons as Virginia pursued higher education, eventually earning her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and her master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado. She taught for years at Old Columbine and Longmont Estates Elementary.
“She was a teacher for many, many years, elementary school, junior high school, mostly in Littleton. And so education was always very important to her,” said her son, James. “She was also very much an advocate for doing things the right way, for being kind to people, for showing grace to people.”
Virginia was active in her church communities, serving as a deacon, elder and Stephen Minister, and was known for her hospitality, famously preparing pecan and sweet potato pies, black-eyed peas and biscuits for family gatherings. Even into her mid-90s, she sharpened her mind with word games and stayed competitive at bingo. “She is feisty,” Schmautz said with a smile. “We meet her with some good banter.”
Dorothea VanLoo was born and raised in Colorado, one of 12 siblings. She spent her life in the state she loved, marrying Ferdinand VanLoo and settling in northwest Arvada near his family. She worked as a banker during the 1960s and also worked in the Pentagon, and although she had no children or grandchildren, Dorothea has maintained close ties with her extended family. Skilled at sewing, crocheting and knitting, she was known for her handiwork and warm presence. Today, at McIntosh, she is known for her fun spirit.
“Sometimes she is a little reserved,” Schmautz said. “Other days she is chatting with residents and drawing others into conversation. You can really feel her impact.”
Both women have been supported by interdisciplinary care teams that address not just medical needs, but also emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. Certified nursing assistants like Laura, a caregiver closely involved in Dorothea’s life, play an essential but often unsung role, Schmautz said. “They are with patients in the earliest hours, providing comfort and companionship when it matters most.”
TRU’s philosophy centers on honoring individuality. “Sometimes the only control someone has left is the ability to say no, and it is our role to respect that,” Schmautz said. “Whether it is a simple walk to the gift shop or fulfilling a wish to visit Walmart, we advocate for what matters most to them.”
As Virginia and Dorothea mark a century of living, their journeys stand as a testament to lives rooted in perseverance, kindness and deep community ties.
“These milestones are an incredible honor for us to witness,” Schmautz said. “It is about recognizing the beauty of a life fully lived.”
