Brussels' Marie Blake celebrates her 100th birthday

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Last Sunday, Marie Blake marked a milestone few reach anymore: she turned 100. She celebrated the day with her friends and family members at Huronlea in Brussels.

 

Clara Marie Deitner was born on Jan. 5, 1926 at her Grey Township home in Huron County to James and Cecelia Deitner. She was the second-oldest of three sisters and one brother.

 

On the farm, Marie was her father’s right-hand man, helping with barn chores, plowing with a team of horses, cutting wood, fixing fences and more.

 

Marie attended S.S. #3 at a time when the children all walked to their one-room schoolhouse. Before school started, Marie was responsible for lighting the stove and then cleaning and locking the school at the end of the day.

 

From there, Marie attended Brussels Continuation School while she remained her father’s right-hand man until June 6, 1945. 
Marie then married George Blake at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Brussels. They farmed together in Morris Township, just outside of Brussels, where they treasured their 10 children as they developed their dairy farm, which also included a beef feed lot, pigs and lots of fieldwork along the way.

 

Marie was a member of the St. Ambrose Catholic Women’s League and the Walton Women’s Institute for many years. 
There was never a dull moment on the farm, full of lots of very happy times. There, Marie peeled endless bushels of apples and potatoes in order to keep everyone fed... and always did it with a smile on her face.

 

Marie and George were married for 65 years until George passed away in December of 2010. Marie remained on the farm until 2019 when she moved into the Highland Apartments. There she enjoyed many friendships and community activities before moving to Huronlea, where she enjoys all the fun activities and community outings and especially all of the thoughtful, loving care.

 

Marie remains an amazing lady, loving mother and grandmother with 10 children, 26 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren and 28 great-great grandchildren.