Grice Connect wishes a happy 100th birthday to Opal O’Brien! Opal celebrated her special day on October 19, 2023.
True to her name, Opal O’Brien told me she LOVES jewelry, and it seems she is truly a ‘GEM.’
“She is an authentic human being, old school, kind-hearted, and always dressed up and classy,” says Leslie Snodgrass, Resident Aid at Southern Manor where Opal lives. “She has lots of family visitors and is a very unique person.”
Opal shared her success with ‘aging well.’
“I like to always keep busy and remain active," she said.
She loves to read and stay up on current events. Oh yes, when I visited her, the television was on CNN, one of her favorite channels. Opal is extremely knowledgeable about what's happening with current affairs and the world we live in today, and she is very willing to engage in a friendly conversation. She added that she loves baseball and enjoys watching the World Series. (She had her money on Phoenix taking the win!)
Opal was married and had three children (two boys from her 1st marriage and a girl from her 2nd). Her daughter lives in Statesboro, and she loves being with her 3 grandsons and 9 great grandchildren.
She retired as an ‘order taker’ after many years, in 1978. Not ready to STOP working, being only 56, Opal started her own business, a nursery school, where she cared for 6 babies ranging in age from 4 weeks to 4 years. She had her hands full, "to say the least," she laughed. After that, she was trained by a mission group to go to Puerto Rico and set up and manage a church office.
“Very adventurous! Loved it," she added.
Opal enjoys music of all kinds as well as reading, especially the Farmers Magazine and Farmers Almanac. She shared, “I must keep my mind active. I'm an optimist. I need something to do. It changes my attitude.”
Opal O’Brien resides at Southern Manor on Fair Road and said in a low voice, “I am not used to living in a one-bedroom, but I love it here.” We smiled. She has a great personality and an even better smile!
Huge congratulations to Opal and may she continuously be ‘BLESSED’ with great health and maintain her positive attitude. Happy 100th year young!
