Cape Breton Post July 17, 2008 Glace Bay woman celebrates her 100th birthday BY SHARON MONTGOMERY CAPE BRETON POST GLACE BAY - It would be hard to top this guest of honour. A luncheon was held Wednesday at the Miners' Village Restaurant in Glace Bay for Fanny Cohen of Glace Bay who was celebrating her 100th birthday. "She is such a wonderful lady, still sharp as a tack," said Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso. "In her closing comments she was thanking all those who came, quoting William Shakespeare and even reciting three or four lines from Hamlet. "She is 100! I couldn't do that in my Grade 11 English class." Cuzner presented Cohen with a congratulatory note from Queen Elizabeth II. The celebration was organized by Cohen's niece Leone Bushkin and nephew Arthur Bland, both of New York, and included an emotional video presentation of various aspects of Cohen's life. "The great story of her life is her teaching," Bushkin said. "She taught for 46 years, thousands of children." "The letters she has received this week from students she taught 30, 40 years ago in the primary ... it is amazing. "Flowers have arrived from British Columbia - you don't get all this unless you have given." Cohen excitedŠCont. from page A1 Cohen was born and raised in Glace Bay and is the last surviving member of the family of six headed by the late Esther and Harry Cohen. She was always active with the Jewish community and at age 90 was president of the Glace Bay Chapter of Canadian Hadassah. Cohen was involved with the teacher's union and on a committee instrumental in bringing the Glace Bay Library to Glace Bay, 50 years ago. Bland said she also has a special charisma. "It is her humour and her wit. She is also very sharp, has a tremendous memory, able to recall events and details without hesitation." The day before the party, Cohen said she was excited. "I am looking forward to this so much, I can't wait. The sentimentality is so engraved in me, I hope it doesn't take over too much." She was excited about receiving the message from the queen. "I knew she wouldn't leave me out." Cohen enjoys crossword and decoding puzzles and is an avid reader, enjoying mysteries. How is she so healthy at age 100? "I think I was lucky. I inherited the best genes from both parents," Cohen said. "Add that with my positive attitude to life, that's what does it." smontgomery@cbpost.com