Love for Olga on 100th Valentine's Day birthday

Olga Kollman, who celebrates her 100th birthday on Valentine's Day, thinks the saying "Love is all you need" is nonsense. And while life hasn't always been easy, it has been a joy, reflected Olga, whose parents emigrated from Russia and eventually settled in Ohio, where Olga and her five siblings were raised.

"It's always fun having a Valentine's Day birthday," said Olga, who was born Feb. 14, 1919.

Love is what brought Olga to Illinois after she "fell for a 'Chicago' man" at Ekco Cookware, where they both worked. Olga and her husband raised a son and daughter in Highland Park.

On Saturday, Feb. 16, from 2-5 p.m., Olga's family and friends will share their love for Olga as they gather for her milestone birthday party at Victory Centre of Vernon Hills, 97 W. Phillip Road, Vernon Hills.

Although one sister lived to 101, Olga is the sole surviving member of her childhood family.

On making it to 100, Olga credits her mother's good cooking with fresh-from-the-family-garden ingredients and being active all her life, from mowing the grass as a child to playing ball and golfing in her younger adult years to staying active today with daily walks.

Being social may also be another secret to Olga's longevity.

"What I enjoy most is spending time with people and having dinner with my family," said Olga, who appreciates Victory Centre's social and active lifestyle and its close location to her relatives.

Olga has seen a lot of changes over the years, but what amazes her most are the big stores like Walmart and the seemingly limitless capabilities of smartphones, which she herself does not own and says she gets along just fine without.

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