Oceanside CA— Surrounded by family and friends, Mae Stein, of Oceanside, celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday, October 29, 2016, at Aegis at Shadow Ridge.
When Mae was born in Colby, Wisconsin, World War I or the Great War was still almost two years away from the armistice of 1918 and Woodrow Wilson was two weeks away from re-election. “I don’t remember too much about 1916,” said Mae with a smile. “I do remember that every time you turn around in Colby, there’s a cheese factory.”
Mae moved to Chicago to go to nursing school at Michael Reese Hospital but found she didn’t like life in the big city. She returned to Colby and met her third husband, Franklin Stein. He was in the Navy and got stationed in San Diego during the 1940’s. When he got out, he didn’t want to leave so the couple bought a home in Pacific Beach. They move to Oceanside in the 80’s.
Mae was told by doctors that she was unable to have kids so the couple took in two foster children, adopted 2 children and then found out the doctors were wrong. “I had my first child at age 43 and our second when I was 45-years-old. That’s not really an age when you want to have children,” Mae said.
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The theme for the party was Queen for a Day. Mae had her crown and the many of the guests were dressed to fill her court. One of the guests went to Mae and told her she looked beautiful. “That is always nice to hear,” said Mae, “especially when your 100.”