EUCLID, Ohio — Who needs the St. Patrick’s Day Parade when you have neighbors like Betty Onderdonk’s?
Betty Onderdonk was born in Ireland on March 29, 1920. She has lived in the United States for about 70 years, and on Noble Beach Drive in Euclid, Ohio for about 50, according to her daughter, Pat Weston-Hall.
Betty was understandably disappointed when the City of Cleveland canceled the St. Patrick’s Day parade out of coronavirus concerns earlier this month.
So, her neighbors threw a parade just for Betty on her 100th birthday on Sunday.
Weston-Hall said she had to run inside during the parade to grab some Kleenex for her mother, who had tears in her eyes.
“She was really touched,” Weston-Hall said. “She was thrilled.”
Several creative neighbors made signs wishing Betty a happy 100th.
Betty is healthy, social and often goes for walks through the neighborhood, Weston-Hall said. She hopes to go back to her home country of Ireland later this year.
Before we could even ask, Weston-Hall shared her mother’s secrets for a long life: “Having oatmeal for breakfast, a sense of humor and a hot toddy before bed.”
To that, we say: “Sláinte, Betty!”
