Bourne Resident Celebrates 107th Birthday

See the full story by the Bourne Enterprise

Friends and family gathered at Cape Cod Senior Residences on August 27 to celebrate a special birthday for longtime resident Julia Schuck, who turned 107 years old.

Schuck is still fast on her feet, though; when asked how long she has been at Cape Cod Senior Residences, she immediately joked, “Too long.”

Schuck did not have much involvement with planning her own birthday party. Cape Cod Senior Residences staff instead spearheaded the effort, grateful she was letting them plan something at all.

“Sorry for being so bossy about this, but I just wanted to celebrate you, Julia,” Cape Cod Senior Residences Enriched Life Director Amy Keenan apologized to Schuck as the cake was being cut.

A vanilla cake was made in-house and served with coffee, ginger ale and ice cream for the youngsters. Several staff members were in attendance with Schuck’s family to wish her a happy birthday, including the chef who made her cake. Family members at the party included Schuck’s sons, Sherman and Chuck Schuck; her daughter-in-law, Paula Schuck; her granddaughter, Pam Schuck; and her great-great-grandsons, Paul and Kevin.

Schuck’s life began in 1919 in the Point Independence area of Onset, before she moved to Bourne, where she lived with her husband, Charles F. Schuck, and gave birth to four sons. She isn’t the first in her family to live a long life; her sister lived to 103.

Schuck credits her long lifespan to two things, the first of which is fresh spinach. “My father used to bring home bundles,” she said.

The other thing she credited is her avoidance of medications. She said that even at 107 she takes no medication. The only other time she can think of taking anything was when her children were young. “Once in a while I took aspirin,” she said.

Her family shared stories over slices of cake. Schuck’s sons recollect their childhood adventures, including tales of diving headfirst into bathtubs on a dare and being returned home by what Schuck described as a “very handsome lieutenant.”

Schuck has lived at Cape Cod Senior Residences for the last 14 years, but she occasionally misses her previous setup, where she had a two-bedroom apartment. Her granddaughter, Pam, said that arrangement ended after Schuck was caught sneaking out of the apartment windows—twice.

In all seriousness, Schuck expressed fondness for her home at Cape Cod Senior Residences, saying, “If you can’t be home, you may as well be here.”