PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ethel Connors will hit a milestone on Wednesday: 100 years.

 

Her bridge club friends at the Ralph Froio Senior Center threw her a surprise birthday party a day ahead of her turning centenarian.

 

Connors walked into her weekly game to a standing ovation on Tuesday. 

 

"This is unreal. I couldn't believe it," Connors said. "It really is a surprise."

 

She weaved her way through the crowd, giving hugs along the way, and there was food, a birthday cake, and the group cheers a toast to Connors. 

 

Connors said the secret to longevity is "exercise, exercise." Every day, Connors does something, whether that be at the hospital or as a participant of the Berkshire Family YMCA's Silver Sneakers program. When she takes a vacation to Cape Cod, she can be seen out on a kayak.

 

Connors is a Pittsfield native and worked for 25 years as a teacher's aide after she spent a few years as an X-ray technician. She started in the classrooms of the former Tucker School.

 

"When the two community schools opened up, I went to Westside and then I went to Morningside," Connors said.

 

She retired from Morningside and still lives in the same house she grew up in. 

 

Meanwhile, she raised five children -- three of whom are retiring themselves. Her elder child does consulting work now, but only a few days a week, and her daughter is a radiologist. Connors has two grandchildren and a great-grandson, and her friend Ellie Persip jokingly adds herself to that list as "an adopted daughter."

 

Connors has been playing bridge for 22 years at the senior center, where the group shares plenty of laughs. While Persip says Connors is "really good" at bridge, she enjoys socializing over a number of different games. 

 

She is also an avid reader and always continues to learn, such as recently taking classes to learn to speak Italian. 

 

The bridge club organized the surprise party to recognize the important milestone but with Connors' popularity, those at the senior center won't be the only ones honoring the occasion.