About a dozen family members and several Seymour Crossing staff and residents were there.

Local pastor Rick Wilson played guitar and harmonica and performed some songs.

Seymour Mayor Craig Luedeman made a special appearance and presented a certificate, and Sen. Brent Steele sent a certificate and a handwritten letter.

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Lucille Klosterman was overwhelmed with everything that was done Friday to celebrate her 101st birthday, which was Saturday.

“I knew a lot of work went into this,” she said while sitting in her wheelchair and wearing a tiara. “To get all of this done up, I sure appreciate it. I really, really appreciate this.”

Several people replied she deserved it, and then they enjoyed snacks, cake and cupcakes in the chapel of the Seymour senior living community.

Danny Klosterman, Lucille’s youngest son who lives in Wichita, Kansas, said a lot of people came to his mother’s 100th birthday open house last year, and he was glad to see another good turnout.

“We had a big celebration last year,” he said. “We were going to try to keep it low-key since we had the big one last year. The next thing we know, the nursing home says, ‘We’re putting one on.’ It’s like, ‘OK, that’s fine with us.’”

Jim Klosterman, Lucille’s other son who lives in Seymour, said it was another opportunity for the family to get together.

“It’s wonderful,” he said. “It is great to see everybody come to see Mom.”

Lucille has lived at Seymour Crossing since June so she can receive 24/7 care.

“We’re really surprised that she has aged so well. She seems to be really in good spirits, good health,” Danny said.

“She has really surprised everybody,” Jim said of his mother turning 101. “The older are outliving the young.”

A couple of Lucille’s four grandchildren were at Friday’s party. Rebecca Klosterman of Seymour said she’s fortunate to live close so she can visit with her grandmother.

“I love her to pieces,” Rebecca said. “She’s the only grandmother I’ve got left now. She’s really special to me. It just shocks me that she has lived this long, but I’m so happy that she’s lived this long life.”

Lucille was born Sept. 24, 1915, and is the daughter of the late William and Eliza Bedel. Her only sibling, Alice Marie Bedel, died at age 15.

After getting all of her schooling in Bedford, she married her husband, Roy Klosterman, in 1934 in North Vernon. He passed away in 1992.

She has two sons, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Most of them live in Indiana.

Lucille spent some of her years working at Excello Shirt Factory and Gerwin Shoe Factory, both of which were in Seymour.

She used to spend a lot of time sewing but doesn’t do much anymore because her eyesight and manual dexterity isn’t what it used to be, she said.

“It’s like any other mother. She’s done everything for me. She took care of us just like a mother hen,” Danny said. “She used to do so much for us. She used to make clothes for us. She’s just a very loving mother.”

Jim said one of his best memories is his mother making him banana pies.

“She used to surprise me. She said, ‘Go look in the fridge later,’” he said. “I’d open it up, and there it would be.”

Danny said the family looks forward to celebrating Lucille’s 102nd birthday next fall.

One of the guests at Friday’s party said to Lucille, “Maybe we’ll see you next year.”

“You never know,” she said, smiling.