Sunday, February 1 was a very special day for Stone Bridge Center for Health and Rehabilitation resident Mary Allen Gaffney, as she celebrated turning 100 with a birthday party.

Mary Allen, born on January 6, 1926, was meant to have her birthday party the previous Sunday. However, it was pushed back due to a major snowstorm that blew through town that same day.

Even so, the delay did not stop family and friends from showing up to Mary Allen’s big day.

Mary Allen was joined by her son, Tom Gaffney, and her daughter, Kathy Storms, as well as Tom’s wife, Sherry, and Storms’ son, Edward Rivera. It was an especially long journey for Tom and Sherry, as they drove up all the way from South Carolina to see the birthday girl.

Nevertheless, Tom said the 12-hour journey was “more than worth it.”

“We’re happy to come back for something as joyous as this,” Tom said.

Over a dozen Stone Bridge Center residents came to Mary Allen’s birthday party, along with several Stone Bridge Center staff, who spruced up a room on the building’s second floor for the special occasion.

They rolled out several tables, with one set aside for Mary Allen and her family. In front of the table was a pile of birthday gifts from Stone Bridge Center staff in 2A, the section Mary Allen lives in.

Sherry, who is experienced with genealogy, put together two poster boards filled with photos of Mary Allen throughout her life.

Bill Benson, a singer-songwriter from Collinsville, kicked off the celebration by performing acoustic music. Benson led with “God Bless America,” which he said he always starts with because it “flips a switch” of memories.

“It’s the switch that makes them go, ‘Oh, I remember that song,’ and it gets everyone singing along,” Benson said.

He went on to play several classic songs, such as “In the Still of the Night” by The Five Satins and “Sunshine on My Shoulders” by John Denver.

Among the many guests at the birthday party was State Representative Mitch Bolinsky, who said that 100th birthdays are “very, very special.” They are so special, he said, that the Connecticut General Assembly celebrates every one they are invited to by presenting the centenarian with a state citation. The citation recognizes some of the incredible things Mary Allen has done in her life, and also wishes her many more years of life and happiness surrounded by family and friends.

“[Mary Allen] has always been a giver, somebody who is special in her community. And for that, the entire membership of the General Assembly declares that you are special and we wish you the very best of health and good cheer,” Bolinsky told Mary Allen. “We express our lasting gratitude and extend our sincerest congratulations and best wishes on this special day.”

Another guest was Erika Plank Hagan, a priest from St Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Bethel. Mary Allen and her family went to the church for many years, and so Hagan, along with a few of Mary Allen’s church friends, was there to celebrate her birthday.

Hagan offered a blessing to Mary Allen.

“Mary Allen, may you be blessed for your 100th birthday,” Hagan said. “May you feel love and peace and joy ahead, and may those who have been enriched by your life and your relation with them be also blessed.”

Afterwards, Mary Allen’s daughter, Kathy Storms, wanted to share a few words. Storms said her mother and father adopted her when she was nine months old, giving her a home she “never would have had.”

“So I just wanted to say thank you for giving me home,” Storms said.

Storms then asked Mary Allen if she remembered adopting her, to which she said she sadly did not.

“That’s fine. You don’t have to, I do,” Storms said. “So thank you for adopting me and giving me a really good life, because I don’t know what would’ve happened without you guys. Thank you, and I love you and happy birthday.”

Afterwards, Benson led everyone in singing Mary Allen “Happy Birthday.” He continued playing as everyone talked amongst themselves and Stone Bridge Center staff served slices of marble cake topped with white and blue icing.

As a high school student, Mary Allen volunteered as an aircraft lookout, sitting on hills with binoculars during World War II and the Cold War. This describes activities of the Ground Observer Corps (GOC) or similar civilian defense efforts, where local volunteers such as Mary would scan the skies for enemy planes to supplement radar and relay sightings to filter centers for air defense.

Mary Allen went on to become a registered nurse and worked on the pediatric floor of Danbury Hospital. She and one of her friends later opened a nursery school called RN Nursery School in Danbury. Mary Allen also served on the board for Bethel Historical Society.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.