MONTICELLO - Nellie Culligan, a native of Monticello, turned 97 on November 13. She has been running the Noah’s Arch Thrift Shop, which is housed in the United Methodist Church at 445 Broadway in Monticello, for approximately 30 years with great success.

In 1926, Nellie was born in the Village of Woodbourne. She was raised there and attended Fallsburg High School under its previous name, South Fallsburg High School.

Nellie worked for New York State Electric and Gas following her graduation, and she was employed by the company for the following twenty-five years. The Office of the Aging utilized her expertise while she was volunteering at the thrift store later in life. It was there that she took part in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).

Singing in the United Methodist Church, Nellie remembers how much she enjoys traveling and performing music with her friends.

Her two brothers are affectionately remembered by the legacy of a growing family, even though they have both since passed away. With seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson, Nellie exhibited that growth. The matriarch also had three children of her own, one of whom has also passed and is remembered just as fondly.

“I have a pretty big family,” she said.

She is still extremely busy running the Noah’s Arch Thrift Shop, which is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and volunteering for the seniors in the Monticello region.

The warmth of the customers and employees of Noah’s Arch Thrift Store are among her favorite features. She stated that she recognizes most of her shoppers, if not all of them, when they come in. She also states that running the shop allows her to leave the house, which she enjoys doing.

She recalled that the store’s twice-yearly bag sales were among her favorite aspects.

“For $5, you can fill a large bag with as much as you can fit in it.” Nellie said, “It is always fun to see the customers try to stuff as much as they can in their bags.”