Virginia Thoele celebrated her 100th birthday this weekend at Belle Manor, surrounded by her friends, family, and staff, who treated her to cake and a party in honor of the triple-digit milestone.

Thoele, originally from Licking, Missouri, has resided at Belle Manor since 2006, when her eldest son Norman brought her back to be closer to him after falls kept threatening her health.

Norman said his mother went to school to become a teacher and married his father Wilson soon after in 1938 before moving to St. Louis.

Norman is one of four boys born to Virginia and Wilson, and although Virginia said that she was “just a housewife,” she noted that keeping after four boys was demanding enough.

When asked to divulge the secret to her longevity, Thoele remarked: “Don’t ask me!”

Lindsay Rapp of Belle Manor said that Thoele loves animals, especially horses and bears, saying that she watches Animal Planet all the time. Thoele told Rapp that she grew up riding horses on her parents’ farm.

Thoele was born on October 12, 1915. The girls from Belle Manor did some digging and discovered that on that day, which happened to be Columbus Day, the Red Sox beat the Phillies two-to-one, and Ford manufactured its one-millionth Model-T.

“Thank you all so much,” Thoele said as her cake was presented, becoming overwhelmed with emotion at the surprise.