By Joseph Edgerton
Contributing Writer

Columbe Ouellette, Goffstown's oldest resident, turned 106 on Tuesday, March 28. (Joseph Edgerton Photo)

It's not every day you meet someone born during the presidency of William McKinley, but if you stop by the Hillsborough County Nursing Home, you might get the chance.

At 106 years old, Colombe Ouellette is Goffstown's oldest resident, and has held the town's Boston Post Cane since 1995. She attributes her long life to hard work and a shot of cognac in her second coffee. In admiration of her longevity, Ouellette was given a party at the nursing home on Monday, March 28, to celebrate her birthday.

She is originally from Suncook, where she was born on March 27, 1899. Ouellette then moved to East Manchester at 10, before finally settling in Goffstown in 1986.

Five Goffstown selectmen presented several proclamations to Ouellette, ranging from the state level to a Presidential Citation.

Four of Ouellette's six children attended the celebration at the Hillsborough County Nursing Home: Claire Jacob, Pauline Houle, Joe Ouelette, and Jerry Ouelette.

"She was incredibly strong and brave to raise the six of us after my father died in 1939," said Joe Ouellette.

After her husband, Joseph, died at 41, she supported her family by working as a seamstress, and made her daughters. and four of her granddaughters. wedding dresses herself.

Ouellette has 19 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren.

"She's been at times a little lost," said Claire Jacob. "But today, she was fabulous. We had a wonderful time."

As the citations were read, Ouelette beamed from beneath her Town of Goffstown knitted blanket. "This is something that doesn.t happen every day," she said. "It's lovely."