Community Corner

Former Lemont Resident Celebrates Century of Life

Catherine Naujokas enjoyed a small party with family and friends on Tuesday.

The year was 1911. In August of that year, the millionth patent was filed with the U.S. Patent Office, Procter & Gamble unveiled Crisco, and on Aug. 9, Catherine Naujokas was born.

Naujokas turned 100 years old Tuesday and celebrated her birthday with a small party and cake with family and friends at the  in Naperville.

A family party is planned for this weekend at a granddaughter’s home in Naperville with family attending from around the country, according to daughter Mary Daraska of Lemont.

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Naujokas lived most of her life in Chicago in the Bridgeport neighborhood, Daraska said. She moved and lived with her daughter in Lemont for 12 years before moving to Alden in December 2010.

At one time she worked in an insurance office in downtown Chicago and walked—a lot.

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“She walked every day on her lunch hour,” Daraska said. “I think that is why she lived so long.”

She was one of seven siblings—most died young—and only one sister, 94, is still alive, Daraska said. The sister lives in Houston, Texas.

Naujokas raised four children: three boys, Frank, Joe and Ray, and daughter Mary. Frank Naujokas is no longer alive. Along with her own children, she has 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

When Daraska was planning her mother’s 90th birthday party, she worried her mother might not live to see the big day. She realizes now she had nothing to worry about.

“Even her doctor said he never thought she’d live so long,” Daraska said.

As the residents began to gather for the party Tuesday, one attendee asked Naujokas, “How old are you?” to which Naujokas replied: “100.” Then her friend said, as any woman might say, “You don’t look it.”

And when asked by another resident how she was feeling at her birthday celebration, Naujokas said, “I feel fine.”


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