Client Highlight: Celebrating Mabel – 100 Years of Love, Laughter, and Legacy
Her dark brown curls were perfectly set from a recent visit to the beauty parlor. She sat back in her recliner with a warm, welcoming smile. The moment we entered, we were met with an overwhelming sense of home. “She’s been waiting for you!” Josephine, Mabel’s devoted home health aide, beamed as she guided us in.
We settled onto a beautifully upholstered floral couch—one Mabel had sewn herself. The same fabric adorned her handmade curtains, a testament to her lifelong craft. At 100 years old, Mabel’s life is stitched together with vibrant stories, each as rich and detailed as the fabrics she once tailored.
“I was just 18 when I took over Rose Curtain,” she began. “My sister had a growing family and needed to be home more.” Her sister, Rose, the original owner of the shop, hadn’t originally trusted Mabel with the production of the shop. When Rose would leave for lunch, she’d warn Mabel: “Mind the shop, but don’t touch my machines!” Mabel assured her she wouldn’t—but we can just imagine Mabel peeking through the shop door, waiting until Rose was out of sight so she could sit down at the sewing machine and begin mastering the trade that would define so much of her life.
Eventually, when Rose’s employee could no longer continue, Mabel stepped in—despite some initial resistance from Rose. “I got paid $2 a week,” Mabel laughed. Over time, Mabel polished her skill and dedicated decades to creating custom pieces for loyal clients. Even in her 90s, long after Rose Curtain Shop closed, Mabel continued to sew from her basement. “Whatever they needed, I’d make it.”
But Mabel also knew how to set boundaries. She always closed the shop on Wednesdays and Saturdays at noon. Her brother once warned her, “You can’t close the shop!” But she simply replied, “Why not? I’m the owner.” She had golf to get to.
An avid golfer, Mabel played three times a week at Indian Ridge Golf Course in Andover. Her golf game was as strong as her work ethic—she even won a trip to Bermuda.
“They said anyone who got a hole-in-one on this particular par 3 would win a trip,” she told us. “I hit the ball, it went into the woods, bounced off a tree, landed on the green, and rolled into the hole! Can you believe I won that way?”
Sitting beside Mabel, wrapped in her stories, we absolutely could.
Mabel is the last surviving member of her immediate family. “My mother loved keeping us all together,” she recalled. “When my brother got married, she just built onto the house. We all lived together nicely.” For Mabel, her happy place has always been “anywhere I can be with my family.”
Her joy doesn’t end with sewing or golf. Mabel’s love for dancing, especially jitterbugging with her charming, unmarried brother, kept her youthful. “He was a real catch,” she laughed. “But I was his dance partner. He’d nod, and we’d hit the floor.”
Throughout our visit, a single digital photo frame filtered through several beloved photos. Mabel pointed out. “That’s my niece,” As the photos appeared on the 5×7 screen. That’s my brother’s family in Michigan… that’s my card group.” An enthusiastic card player, Mabel told us about her many card nights and the games she loved. She urged us to look up the card game “45”—one of her favorites. She and Josephine also play countless games of Rummikub. “She lets me win sometimes,” Mabel joked. Josephine shook her head with a smile, “Mabel usually wins.”
When asked about her home health care experience. Mabel looked at Josephine and announced. “She’s my right hand. She’s, my buddy.” It struck us how deeply Josephine is woven into Mabel’s life. While Mabel spoke, she frequently referred to Josephine to fill in her memory gaps. Josephine happily stepped in, recalling the names of all Mabel’s siblings, nieces, and nephews.
“I don’t even like telling her when I won’t be here” Josephine added, “She looks forward to our time together so much.” And it’s clear Josephine feels the same.
Visiting Mabel in her love-filled home reminded us of why we do what we do at ABC Home Healthcare. We’re humbled by clients like Mabel, whose century-long stories are stitched with strength, grace, and joy. And we’re equally moved by aides like Josephine, who show up with care, compassion, and unwavering dedication.
Before we left, we asked Mabel what advice she’d offer after 100 remarkable years. She paused, smiled, and said,
“Do what you love. Don’t be forced—because if you don’t love it, you won’t do it well.”
At ABC, we’re proud to say: We love what we do.
And it’s because of people like Mabel—and caregivers like Josephine—that we do it with heart.
