SOUTH DEERFIELD — Prompted by an inquiry from a Turners Falls resident, the Recorder recently sought to answer the question: Who is the oldest person living in Franklin County? However, while the resulting story, published in Saturday’s edition, featured one of the oldest residents in Franklin County, Grace Flood isn’t the oldest. As part of the reporting process, the Recorder contacted the town clerks from each of Franklin County’s 26 municipalities to determine the oldest resident in each town. Although initial information received from the town clerks indicated that Grace Flood of Deerfield was the county’s oldest resident, new information has come to light showing an even older resident of the same town.
At 109, Stella Connor of Deerfield surpasses Flood by five years. Deerfield Town Clerk Cassie Sanderell, in explaining the error, said she “did not pull the correct record from the state computer system, which would have captured Stella Connor’s file as the eldest Deerfield resident.” “I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for making an error,” Sanderell wrote in a statement.
“I am working hard to learn all aspects of my duties here in the Clerk’s Office and am humbled by the gravity of the role and [sheer] number of tasks. ..
. I join you in celebrating the lives and longevity of both Grace Flood and Stella Connor.” Connor was born in June of 1915.
“I’m very happy because I don’t have too much to do,” Connor said in an interview in her South Deerfield apartment on Monday. “I just do my own thing.” Connor enjoys reading religious texts, novels brought by her daughter and the daily paper.
She also looks forward to daily visits with friends and three generations of family. Article continues after..
. Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Additionally, Connor enjoys taking care of her apartment. Even at 109, Connor still lives alone and does her own house chores without assistance.
“I like it,” Connor said. “I’ve lived here 40 years and I’ve been the happiest of my life.” Before moving into her South Deerfield apartment, Connor lived with her daughter and two sons in Whately.
After her children moved out to go to school and start families of their own, she moved into what she fondly describes as her “little tiny apartment.” “Everything changed for the best [in my lifetime],” Connor added. “I never expected to be 109.
No, I didn’t think so. But, I am.” Connor attributes her longevity to her faith.
“Religion is the main thing,” Connor explained, adding that since she is no longer able to attend church services, she meets weekly with her deacon at her home. “[God] just wants to keep me going to enjoy his beautiful world that he’s created. I think that’s what it is.
” Friends of Connor remarked on her positive outlook, as evidenced by Connor’s reflections on her life. “I’m just happy with life,” Connor said. “I can’t complain about anything.
Whatever happened before, it happened, that’s all forgotten. I’m living in the present, just enjoying.”.
