Congratulations

Woman celebrates 101st birthday with family and friends

Born on Sept. 24, 1909, in Amsterdam, N.Y., Sophie Murawski was the fourth of six surviving girls born to John and Valentyna Murawski.

At an early age, Murawski and her family moved to New Britain, Conn., where she began working for Landers, Frary and Clark, a factory known for its household appliances, including stoves, coffeemakers and toasters. In the late 1950s, Murawski, who never married, retired from Landers and moved to Los Angeles to live with a sister and niece.

Before moving to the Elms Convalescent Hospital in Glendale, where she has been a resident since October 2002, she lived in Atwater Village. Throughout the years, Murawski has loved to tat, and was an avid fan of baseball, television sitcoms and playing solitaire and, admittedly, she has an insatiable taste for chocolate! Her niece, Pamela Smith, a resident of Glendale, is her only known surviving relative.

Murawski’s 101st birthday was celebrated a few days early, on Tuesday at the Elms Convalescent Hospital. Surrounded by fellow patients, Elms staff, her niece, Pamela, and Pamela’s husband, Le Roy, and longtime friends from Orange County, Phil and Judy Dee, Murawski enjoyed the celebration. Entertainment was provided by her favorite singer-guitarist, Craig Shadburn.