Something special was happening at Mary Cantway’s home on Monday, Sept. 30.
Numerous friends and neighbors were joined by Homewood officials, two television cameramen, and several reporters as they all arrived to mark Mary’s 110th birthday.
Village President Rich Hofeld, Village Manager Napoleon Haney, and Chief of Police Denise McGrath led the visitors into Mary’s backyard to celebrate her status as Homewood’s first supercentenarian, a title that made her a local legend.
That was apparent when special guests from Pepsico and Portillo’s started to arrive with a year’s supply of Mary’s favorite beverage — Gatorade Zero — and a big chocolate cake and gift basket full of goodies from Portillo’s.
But Mary is a modest person. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she said she had no idea why she has lived that long except that she is “… a good vegetable eater. I eat very little meat, but I eat well, and I eat a lot.”
microphones as Mary Cantway answers
questions for two television stations and
several reporters. (Karen Torme Olson)
Mary also has done a few other things that keep her young. Until COVID, she swam and exercised 5 days a week for 40 years at the Homewood-Flossmoor Racquet Club and frequently went out with friends.
“I swam until I couldn’t anymore. I was 105,” she said. “My doctor has me doing leg lifts now.
“I don’t take much medicine either. Just two Tylenol a day. I still can get around. I use a walker, take showers, and take care of myself.”
Mary grew up in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood in a 10-room house with her family until she married Elmo Cantway at age 26.
In 1957, she and Elmo moved to a house in Homewood where their children, Donald and Linda, grew up and where Mary now lives with Linda and her husband, Bob Cook. She has six grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
Elmo died in 1982, and Donald died two years ago. One of her favorite memories involves Donald, who was hosting a birthday party for his mom.
“We lived across from the Illinois Central railroad and the trains were going morning and night. So, I went over there and told them my son was having a 90th birthday party for me and maybe they could move the trains so people would think I lived in a halfway decent place. They moved them.”
Besides family, Mary has a slew of friends who keep her busy. Virginia Errant of Tinley Park says she drives to Homewood to go to church with Mary. Virginia Hernly, Mary’s niece, came all the way from northern California to be with Mary on this special birthday, and Jan Striegel came to celebrate with Mary, who she knew from Thursday senior luncheons at the American Legion Hall in Hazel Crest.
“I couldn’t wait to see her every Thursday at the senior lunches. She was still driving then. She came with her friends, and they all dressed to the nines with matching necklaces, earrings and broaches. That ended with COVID,” Striegel said.
Mary has lived through a lot of historic events and cultural milestones. She was born five years before women had the right to vote in the U.S., and she can’t remember who she voted for when she cast that first ballot, but she did say that she thought Franklin D. Roosevelt did a good job as president.
She said the milestone that still impresses her the most is the U.S. sending men into space and she admits she still can’t wrap her mind around it.
Happy Birthday, Mary! And many more.