There is no sign of Kay Harlow slowing down. And that’s saying something, since the Sun City resident recently joined the centenarian club.
Harlow — who carries the nickname “Queen Mum” (“Everyone calls me that,” she said. “That’s what the queen’s mother was called in England. She may no longer be with us, but I still am!”) — was born in the United Kingdom and was raised in New York. She was among the first batch of residents to move into the Sun City community 16 years ago.
Kay Harlow celebrates her 100th birthday at the library. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
One more fun fact: Since 2006, she has worked as a volunteer at the Huntley Area Public Library in the reserve section.
Pam Kampwerth, head of volunteer and outreach services at the library, arrived at her new post about eight years ago and said she was first taken aback when she was told Harlow was a volunteer — but for the best of reasons.
“The majority of our volunteers come from Sun City and I’m very used to have these retired individuals help out,” she said. “Being retired is one thing, but being in your 80s and 90s is something else. Kay is a surprise because you’d never guess how old she is from just being around her.
What Harlow is thankful for
Sidebar: Given the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, Harlow was in an especially thankful mood — from thanking her neighbor for delivering mail to the phone calls and letters she’s received about her 100th birthday. When asked what she is thankful for, the Sun City resident replied, “I guess the thing I’m most thankful for is that I can enjoy a family that gives us no grief. They are all successful, they do well in school, they all have jobs, they are respectful of their elders, and they just bring me great happiness. I’m also thankful, to be honest, that I have faith. I don’t think you can get through this world, particularly today, without some faith. I like my church, I like my faith.”
“She’s so with it; she’s full of life,” Kampwerth added. “She’s witty and she loves to tell stories.”
The library celebrated Harlow’s birthday last week with a tea breakfast. While Kampwerth said every volunteer is appreciated, the fact that Harlow is 100 years old was worth celebrating.
“It’s just really nice to be able to celebrate something with a person like that,” Kampwerth said. “We’ve all said we want to be like Kay when we grow up, and that’s true. She’s doing things, she’s active. She’s just full of life.”
Others agree.
“As a person, she still has this light in her after living this fulfilled life,” said Doug Cataldo, marketing and technology specialist with the library. “She’s a bright star. She’s always in a good mood. She’s always upbeat, and if you ask her at any time about the library, she says she loves it here. You couldn’t ask for a better volunteer.”
Harlow’s history with libraries is limited to Huntley, but has experienced a long career spanning three states. For 25 years, she worked as the head of the payroll department for a state hospital in New York.
After retiring and accumulating a lot of traveling under her belt, Harlow said her daughter called and asked if she would want to move to Michigan with her.
“I said ‘who in their right mind moves to Michigan?’” Harlow jokes, cutting away to thank a neighbor for delivering her mail. “She wanted to open a bed and breakfast, and offered me an apartment in that complex.
“If I’ve learned anything, it’s that you don’t say no to anything until you know what you’re saying no to. I had a wonderful 11 years there and it was wonderful.”
After selling the property, her daughter moved back to Illinois. Before Harlow could decide where her next adventure would take her — she contemplated moving back to New York — she was told a house had been purchased for her in Sun City.
The celebration of turning 100 has been long, but Harlow has been ever so thankful.Harlow’s family threw her a party where more than 70 individuals were in attendance, her church celebrated with her, and, of course, the library. She even received a letter from President Obama.
In terms of slowing down, she said she has no plan to do so anytime soon.
“I do have some sense. I stopped driving when I was 97 because my reflexes were not as fast as they used to be, and I thought that wasn’t fair to the other drivers.
“It’ll probably be the same for the library. When my eyes or something else start to hinder, then I’ll have enough sense to resign. I seem to be able to do the job, and no one has complained, so off it goes,” she said.
She is also very humble, commenting “any anticipation of anything that’s happened to me, particularly in this last year…I don’t think anyone can have the happiness, the attention and the accolades that I’ve had.
“It’s been unbelievable, it really has. I often tell children at the library that I’m the happiest person you’re going to meet today, and that’s no lie.”
