By Maggie Dolbow
Correspondent

Goffstown resident Marge Kearns, left, who turns 90 on April 1, spends four days a week volunteering at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Here she brings a drink to Armand Beaudin. She serves coffee and takes patients in wheelchairs where they need to go during her hours at the hospital. (Maggie Dolbow Photo)

More people should be born on April Fools' Day, if 90-yearold Marge Kearns is any example.

"My father was fooled," Kearns chuckled. "He wanted a boy, and I was the third girl."

In celebration, Kearns' neighbors at Timberwood Condominiums got together to throw her a birthday party on Wednesday, March 16.

Gervaise Gosselin, Mary Gillooly and Flora Bovyn wanted to surprise her, so they incorporated her party into the regular potluck supper. About 30 people joined in singing "Happy Birthday" to a very surprised and elegant lady.

Kearns. two sons, Jimmy and John, were among the guests, as well as Jane Sedrick, a long-time friend, who is like a daughter.

Born in New Jersey, Kearns lived most of her life in New York, owning a candy and stationery store in Woodhaven. After retiring in 1987, she followed her son John who began working in New Hampshire. Later her other son, Jimmy, joined them. Kearns was one of the original residents of Building 1 in Timberwood. Soon she was an active board member.

Gillooly made a scrapbook showing all the work the group of neighbors did in the early years, landscaping and improving the property. One weekend they planted more than 360 annual plants.

Current President Chuck Faro noted that it was the financial foresight, as well as the hard work of the early board members, that makes the neighborhood attractive today.

In addition to her neighborhood work, almost immediately Kearns became connected with the Community Action Program in Concord. Through them she began volunteering at the Veterans Administration Hospital. She chose this volunteer work because she could take the bus to the hospital.

"Up until five years ago she walked to Cote.s Bakery and took the bus to Manchester. Then she changed buses for the trip to the VA," Gillooly explained. "She's their mascot."

Even now, Kearns volunteers four days a week, delivering coffee and moving patients in wheel chairs to their destinations. After she serves coffee in the Solarium in the morning, she visits with certain patients in their rooms.

"That way I get to meet everybody," Kearns said.

Kearns was full of praise for the Community Action Program.

"You meet once per month and check in with a social worker there," she said. "There are speakers, and you meet all kinds of people. There are so many things for people to do!"

She explained that there are many avenues for volunteering, and they try to match people up with a need that fits best into their schedule and ability to be consistent with their commitment.

"It is a wonderful way to help out," she explained.

Kearns likes to read and do puzzles. She used to walk a lot.

"That.s one thing I do miss. Everybody says to me, 'Where's your cane?' It's in my pocketbook," she laughed. "I think the best thing I did was moving up to New Hampshire"

Kearns also has a daughter, Evelyn, who lives in Indiana, a granddaughter who teaches English in Taiwan, a grandson, and a great-grandson, Noah. What is her secret to a full and happy life?

"You've got to keep busy! You can't vegetate!"