HADLEY — In the normally quiet residential neighborhood where Helen Baj lives, Thursday morning brought hoopla as neighbors lined the street and gathered in her yard, while a procession of vehicles, including police cruisers and a firetruck, passed by her home.
“Look at all the cars,” Baj said as she stood waving to those driving by, with signs attached to the vehicles reading “happy birthday” and describing her as “sweet,” “kind” and “adorable,” and people in the vehicles holding red, white and blue pompoms.
The parade was about helping Baj celebrate her 100th birthday, though Baj said she didn’t feel as if anything had changed.
“To me, it’s not any different, I don’t feel any different,” Baj said.
Baj had already been marking the occasion, with a nephew in California paying for her meal of parmesan-encrusted fish at Bernie’s Dining Depot in Chicopee the night before.
Thursday’s event was put together by Pat Coombs from the town clerk’s office, in part to honor Baj’s service on election days. She began as a poll worker when she was nearly 80, greeting and helping voters for close to 20 years. In 2015, the town awarded her the W. Fred Oakley Jr. Award for her spirit of volunteerism and being an “election worker extraordinaire.”
Town Clerk Jessica Spanknebel presented balloons and flowers and Fire Chief Michael Spanknebel gave her a T-shirt stating she is an honorary volunteer firefighter.
A Hadley native, Baj lived for many years on Route 9 in Amherst before returning to her hometown. Baj worked for New England Telephone & Telegraph as a phone operator in both Amherst and Northampton until 1956, and then at the food science and nutrition department at the University Massachusetts until 1976, when she retired to take care of her mother.
During World War II, Baj served in the Navy, spending much of her 2½ years at the Navy Relief Office in Portland, Maine.
Stopped at her driveway, Richard Buckowski, the commander of American Legion Post 271, led a salute and presentation of an American flag. One of the Legion’s longest-serving members, Army World War II veteran Stanley Fil, who celebrated his own 100th birthday in June, got out of a vehicle and gave Baj a hug as he wished her a happy birthday.
Baj said she will have cupcakes and other assorted candies to eat, adding that she has a sweet tooth, but figures at her age she can eat what she wants to. She would also enjoy Polish food made by her niece, Diane Baj, who was responsible for getting her out of her home to see the parade.
“Diane made me golumpkis, so I’ll be in heaven,” Baj said.
“I’m amazed that people would pay that much attention to me,” Baj said.
