Bolton still ‘life of the party’ at 100

Dec. 21, 1911 was more than the first day of winter.

It was the day when Elizabeth Moeckel was born in Saxony, Germany.

Today, she’s known as Johnston resident Elizabeth “Betty” Moeckel Bolton, who last week celebrated her 100th birthday.

Last Wednesday, in fact, Bolton enjoyed her third birthday party in four days, as members of her immediate family and her close friends on the first floor wing of the Briarcliffe Manor in Johnston helped her celebrate the milestone.

“She’s quite the lady,” said Beverly Holmquist, one of Bolton’s four children. “My father passed away in 1972 and she lived independently in our parents’ house in Pawtucket until she moved here to Briarcliffe last year.”

Given that, it’s easy to understand why Bolton’s motto has always been: “The more, the merrier ... there’s always room for one more at any gathering.”

Last Sunday, a host of family and friends filled just about every nook and cranny of Spirito’s Restaurant on Broadway in Providence for the first of her three celebrations.

“Family members came from Florida, Vermont and Connecticut to honor our mother, who people also called Sis, Mamma, Auntie Betty and Grammy,” Holmquist said.

Last Tuesday, Bolton, who still gets around with the use of a walker, was given a surprise party at Briarcliffe Manor that included live entertainment and a toast to Bolton.

“It was a wonderful party,” said Holmquist. “She was surprised and she really enjoyed the day.”

On her official birthday, Bolton enjoyed another cake and camaraderie with her friends on the first floor wing at Briarcliffe as well as her immediate family members.

Admiring her mother, Holmquist said she’s not surprised Bolton reached the 100-year mark.

“She’s one strong lady. And don’t worry; she’s not afraid to give anyone the devil, either. She’s one feisty lady,” she said.

When asked to smile for the camera, Bolton proved Holmquist’s assessment true by sticking her tongue out at the photographer.

Apparently, it’s an attitude that comes naturally.

“She’s got great genes,” Holmquist said. “It runs in the family. After all, her sister [Martha A. Johnson], who lives in Manchester, Connecticut, just turned 90 and she came to the party Sunday at Spirito’s.”

Bolton’s good genes come from her father and mother, Franz and Anna Moeckel, who came to this country as Holmquist explained “in search of a better life” back in 1923. Franz worked most of his adult life in Rhode Island’s textile industry.

Bolton was only 10 years old when her family moved to America. She spent the earlier part of her life, after marrying Arthur D. Bolton, bringing up four children and later working in school cafeterias in Cranston and Pawtucket.

It has been a wonderful life for Bolton, who is also known, as her children will tell you, as “the life of the party!”

In addition to Beverly Holmquist, who lives in East Greenwich with her husband Jerry, Bolton’s other children are: Barbara Corelli and her husband Gino, who live Johnston; Robert Bolton, who also lives in East Greenwich; and Donald Bolton of Cranston. She has 20 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.