YOUNGSVILLE — She was born before the U.S. had even entered World War I. Before the noisy flapper era, before automobiles were the chosen mode of travel, baby Aldona Harder arrived in the now far-off world of 1916.

But Harder, age 100 as of June 30, proceeded to live a rich life of love, adventure and accomplishment. And the Youngsville resident continues to relish her daily existence to the fullest.

“God has been good to me,” she said at a June 26 family centennial celebration in her honor. “And this area has helped me to live long.”

The farms, the hills, the trees and streams, “It all gives me peace,” she said with a smile.

Aldona didn't grow up in greenery, however. Flatbush, Brooklyn was her birthplace, and she went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from New York University at a time when few women attempted college.

But her father squired Aldona and her sister each summer from the city up to Menderis farm in White Sulphur Springs, so seeds were planted.

After graduation at age 22, this young woman of strong Lithuanian stock boarded a train bound for Chicago to work in the promotions department of the Chicago Tribune. Her parents worried about her safety in the strange city and asked a Lithuanian relative who lived there to help her get established.

Then, at an Easter dinner at the relative's house, she met the love of her life, Herbert Harder.

“He took me back to my apartment and that was it,” she said. “We were never separated, not for 70 years. He was thoughtful, kind, considerate and loving. My sweetheart, Herb Harder. Oh, I miss him.”

Herb died at age 92.

As a young married couple with children, the Harders remained in Chicago, with Herb working for Armour & Company, the meatpacking firm founded in Chicago. Meanwhile, Aldona's mother, now a widow, had moved to Youngsville with her second husband, Charlie Jankus, to run the Hotel Clair on Route 52.

When Jankus himself died, Herb told Aldona “we have to help your mother,” and the young family - now including sons Bradley and Douglas - moved to Youngsville.

“We fell in love with the area,” Aldona recalled. “We bought a house and a store in Youngsville, and we opened a shop that was mostly a butcher shop with some groceries.”

Aldona studied at State Teachers College at New Paltz (now SUNY New Paltz), fulfilling a long-held dream to teach.

“I then taught fourth grade in Youngsville for 24 years,” she said. “It was just the greatest. The children who came to me were anxious to learn. We had such a good feeling between us. To know that you could encourage them about school and learning, to get them to try so hard to participate to the best of their ability ... I loved that feeling of 'look how I'm helping this youngster.'”

Aldona became active at St. Francis Church in Youngsville, and her husband served as board member for the Youngsville School.

These days, she's intricately involved with family. “They are very caring, and my grandchildren and great-grandchildren call me constantly.”

She has no real secrets for living a long life. She enjoys one daily martini. She's an avid reader, chauffered by her son Brad every few weeks to Western Sullivan Public Library in Jeffersonville to pick up mystery novels.

“If it's a good book, I'm done in two days,” she said. “I probably go through three or four books in two weeks.”

Granddaughter Cheryl Graham, who hosted the birthday party in Jeffersonville along with her husband James (J.P.) Graham, agrees Aldona is amazing.

“She's intelligent, strong, determined,” said Cheryl. “You can go to her and talk and reminisce. She remembers more than I remember.”

“Amazing? Not me,” said Aldona. “I'm just a 100-year-old lady.”

Many would beg to differ.