A Durango woman reached a milepost Saturday that few people live to see.
Josefita Herrera, simply Josie to family and friends, celebrated her 100th birthday.
More than 250 well-wishers packed the Sacred Heart Catholic Church hall to congratulate the petite birthday girl who is as spry as people 30 years her junior.
Gov. John Hickenlooper and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet sent written messages.
After a blessing by Father Larry from Sacred Heart Church, a four-piece band – Los Mitotes, founded 50 years ago by two of Herrera’s nephews, Joe and Eliseo Herrera – played Las Mañanitas, the traditional Mexican birthday song. At each table, place mats contained the words so listeners could sing along.
As the music played, nephews and cousins took turns taking Herrera to an improvised dance floor.
Herrera belongs to an elite group. The latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau (2010) found 53,364 centenarians in the country – 1.73 per 10,000 people.
A native of New Mexico, Herrera had 10 siblings: six sisters and four brothers. Two sisters, Maria, 88, and Ventura, 79, are still alive.
The family moved to Ignacio, Leadville and then back to Ignacio during her childhood. Herrera went only as far as second grade because, being the eldest sister, it fell to her to look out for her siblings. She got them up in the morning, saw that they got dressed and ate breakfast. She then drove them to school in a horse-drawn wagon.
During her working years, Herrera washed and ironed clothes in a laundry for 25 cents an hour. She and her husband, Jose, farmed in Ignacio, but after he died 30 years ago, she moved to Durango.
Herrera maintains her own apartment, cooking, cleaning and washing clothes. As a member of a church group that travels, she has visited Mexico, Hawaii and Italy.
Over a century, Herrera said, events become a blur. But probably what was most impressive and least expected was putting a human on the moon, she said.
As well-wishers arrived, she moved among them, greeting each with a hug or a kiss.
Herrera visited her doctor and chiropractor Friday. Each cleared her for continued activity.
daler@durangoherald.com
