Ageless Beauty Centenarian’s Spirit Provides Inspiration For Many Half Her Age

My hero is a woman who has shown me how to live life with grace, dignity, humor, faith, and most of all, love. She has an unbelievable strength and yet is vulnerable and open. She constantly amazes and inspires me. The qualities she possesses are ones that, in the course of our busy lives, we quickly acknowledge as admirable and something to work toward someday. But to meet someone who is a living example is truly rare and inspirational. The first time we met two years ago, our hearts connected and I knew that I had met a very special friend.

My hero has survived the hardships of the Dust Bowl days in Colorado, the joy of raising six hard-working, successful children, the satisfaction of a highly respected teaching career, and the death of her childhood sweetheart/husband. Despite many health problems in recent years, she has maintained her optimism, flexibility and zest for life.

What makes my hero even more unusual is that she is 100 years old! Her name is Helen Rodkey. She is my greatest teacher, a dear friend and one heck of a Scrabble player, too.

MEMO: Would you like to nominate someone as an Everyday Hero? Write a short essay between 100 and 200 words telling us about your hero and send it to: Everyday Hero, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.