Celebrating Rita Buser’s 102nd birthday

Rita Buser (center) gathered with family and friends at Stony Hill Pub and Grill in Waubeka on June 29 to celebrate her 102nd birthday, Those attending included (front row, from left) Tina Ott and her husband Dennis, Buser’s nephew, her daughter Diane Wendland, son Dale Buser and his wife Shelly, friend Lisa Mazzie, (second row) nephews Rick Bares and Joe Ott and his wife Clare, Andy Wundrock, great-niece Hajira Buser, nephew Pat Bares, (back row)  nephew Paul Buser, friend Tom Furan, granddaughter Amy Wundrock) niece, Lucy Buser and great-granddaughter Addie Wundrock. Rita Buser was born in Holy Cross on June 29, 1924, to Joe Ott and Sue (Ries) Ott, and when she was a child the doctor told her parents she was frail and likely wouldn’t live beyond age 19, according to her daughter Diane. Because of the Depression and money being tight, her parents took out a life insurance policy on her to cover expenses for her funeral, and she still has that policy. Buser had one sister, the late Janet Bares, and one brother, the late Joe Ott. She married Bernie Buser, who was in the Air Force during World War II, on May 20, 1944 — one month before she turned 20 — at the chapel at Langley Field Military Force Base in Virginia.  Bernie told her he feared that his life would be cut short due to the war, but the couple celebrated 62 years of marriage before he died on Aug. 2, 2006. The couple had three children, David, Diane and Dale, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Buser worked at Power Products in Grafton for about 10 years, but other than that was a homemaker. She loved baking pies. When she and Bernie were raising their family, she made two pies at a time about every other day — one for her and the other for the family. Buser never liked milk, and has been drinking coffee since age 6. She doesn’t drink water, except recently she takes a sip with her pills. Her daughter speculated that may be her secret to longevity.         Photo by Sam Arendt