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Elderwood at Grand Island threw a birthday party Monday for resident Eva Brown Eckman, who celebrated her centennial birthday.
Eckman grew up in Buffalo, the daughter of Hattie and Ormiston Brown, and worked at Spaulding Fiber in North Tonawanda. She married Lloyd Eckman Sept. 28, 1938, and had three children. Today, she has six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great-grandchildren.
She was an avid bowler, enjoyed bow and arrow hunting with her husband, gardening and canning.
Asked what her secret is to living to be 100, Eckman said, "It's the Lord's secret. I don't know what it is."
Pictured at right, Town Supervisor Nathan McMurray presented her with a town proclamation marking March 27, 2017, as Eva Brown Eckman Day on the Island. Eckman's daughter Marilyn Kumpf looks on.
The party was attended by dozens of residents and staff of Elderwood, as well as four generations of family.