Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on April 23, 2022

LITTLETON Dorothy Gould has six children, 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren and can remember all of their names, their spouses names, their careers and their interests.

She listens to CNN and books on tape every day, studied Hebrew after becoming a grandma, recalls details of her childhood friends and keeps kosher.

Dorothy Gould also happens to be 100 years old.

The Lowell native and now Littleton resident celebrated her birthday on Wednesday with no fuss or frills but rather quietly, taking time to speak with her big family one-on-one.

Reaching such a milestone, however, is a big deal to the rest of the Goulds. Sherry Gould, Dorothys daughter and primary caretaker, said her mom has had a profound impact on everyone she meets and always strives to improve the lives of those she cares about.

Id like to just say that my mother is probably one of the most positive and influential figures in all of our lives, Sherry Gould said. She never said, Cant do, she always said, You can do. In fact, sometimes she would say, You did a wonderful job, but thats not your best work, try harder.

Despite the size of her family and the fact shes living by herself in a nursing home, Dorothy Gould said she never feels excluded and receives constant support and love.

My family means everything to me, she said. They never let me feel lonely. They always included me in all activities, in their ups and their downs, and I felt like I was right in the middle of the family and Ive always felt a part of it.

Her 100 years of life and counting are an opportunity to recognize a great number of historical events she has lived through. Dorothy spent her childhood in the Great Depression and saw her fiance, Morris, off when he was drafted in World War II. They were later married, in 1944, and Dorothy took on the role of a typical 1950s housewife for decades.

But at 56 years old, Morris became very sick and spent 11 years in intensive care before dying. It was then that Dorothy had to take on a new role as her husbands caregiver.

To cope with all of this, Dorothys daughter, Sally Narodick, said her mother decided to get her undergraduate and graduate degrees in fine art, opening her own art studio in her late 50s. There, she taught sewing, ceramics, pottery, painting and drawing to local children in her own home a single-story ranch house in Clinton.

Narodick said the whole family was surprised by how passionate and motivated their mom was to start a career and take the reins.

It turns out theres a strong woman behind every man, Narodick said. She was probably running the whole thing from the beginning, but we didnt know.

Dorothy began to go blind about two years ago, but Narodick said that never stopped her from being herself and staying sharp.

She never complained about having to adjust and deal with the loss of her sight and the blindness, Narodick said. She figured out how to do it and how to stay vibrant, and she never complained about having to go to a nursing home. She took every change that was required in stride.

Sherrys daughter, Melyssa Price, 33, remembers going to temple every Saturday and taking art classes with her grandma and the rest of the grandkids. When Dorothy wasnt able to drive anymore, Price said she would take her to her art lessons and later out to lunch.

When she lost her vision, Dorothy Gould also was unable to create the art she once could, but Price said that never stopped her from expressing her creativity in other ways she just began using different techniques.

As a kid, Price said she recalls how her grandma found a lesson in everything.

She very much pushes me as a grandkid, but also herself, to make sure that she doesnt give up as soon as the going gets tough, Price said. Driving to and from art classes, she couldnt really see anymore, but shed still scold me if I sped too much or if I was weaving in front of traffic or if I didnt stop in time for the red light.

Even as an adult, Price said her grandma is the first person she calls for advice, for a laugh or simply to calm down after a hard day. Living in Ayer, she said shes able to visit her grandma almost weekly.

When Price called her on her birthday, she said her grandma was very grateful to catch up.

Shes so cute, too. She doesnt want to take up your time, so shed be like, Ill let you go, she said. I like to tell her shes not allowed to kick the bucket anytime soon because she has to live long enough for my kids to meet her.

And by the sound of it, Dorothy Gould lives an astoundingly healthy life. Her daughters say shes never taken any intense medication, besides an occasional ibuprofen, although she is a sugar fanatic, Sherry Gould said. She also continues to keep kosher, despite the difficulties of doing so in a nursing home.

One of the secrets to a happy life, Dorothy Gould said, is living by the Golden Rule:treating others as one wants to be treated, just treat people with kindness and be selfless.

I try to think of others and to do good deeds, she said. I just solve whatever comes up right then and there and enjoy people.

In her old age, Dorothy moved into a home next to Sherrys, living independently until only about six years ago. Sherry Gould became her mothers caregiver, but she said it was never a burden. Having her mother right next door deeply enriched the lives of her children, who had the wisdom and comfort of a grandparent so close by.

There is no one who doesnt like her, Sherry Gould said. Her legacy is how kindly she treats others and what a role model shes been, what a force of nature and a force of strength and a source of strength for all of us. Shes quite a lady.

Dorothy Goulds advice for living a long, fulfilling life?

Go carefree, graciously, and be kind, she said. Dont hurt anybody and dont say the wrong thing.

More here:

Littleton resident turns 100, admired for her positivity and vibrant spirit - Lowell Sun

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