Camarillo woman turns 109 Sunday

Lorena Benson Lorena Benson will celebrate her 109th birthday tomorrow with a few family members at her daughter Bonnie Lowe’s Camarillo home. Benson’s birthday is Sept. 27.

Although the Camarillo woman has difficulty seeing, walking and hearing, she let none of that hold her back when Lowe asked if she wanted a birthday party.

“She definitely wants it,” Lowe said. “She’s pretty game for almost anything.”

Benson, born the second of 10 children, grew up on a South Dakota farm where a water pump served as the kitchen faucet, wood was needed to fuel the iron stove and the family had no indoor toilet.

She moved to Los Angeles at age 25 and worked as a teacher until she married Charles Benson about a year later. The couple raised three daughters and a son together. Benson returned to teaching when Charles became ill and could no longer work. When he died in 1952, the couple had been married for 26 years.

Benson retired from teaching in the early 1960s. Some 20 years later, she lost her son, Robert, to an illness.

Lowe said about 25 family members, including Benson’s two other daughters and many of her 12 grandchildren, will celebrate her milestone birthday tomorrow. Benson has 21 greatgrandchildren and nine greatgreat-grandchildren, but most of them live out of town and aren’t expected to attend, Lowe said.

Benson, who lives at a residential care home near Las Posas Country Club, starts her day at 8 a.m. She dresses with help from the staff but eats breakfast under her own power. On a good day, she’s a lively talker, said Lina Bolotsky, owner of the care home where Benson lives.

“She’s friendly with everyone,” Bolotsky said.

Although Benson sleeps more often during the day now than when the Camarillo Acorn first profiled her in 2007 for her 107th birthday, she will wake up happily if ice cream is being served.

Keeping with a lifelong practice, Benson participates in daily exercise. She uses a bicycle to strengthen her legs and participates in tossing games that exercise her hands and arms. She also joins housemates in rousing sing-alongs.

When Lowe visits, she often reads poetry to Benson. The two will discuss what’s new with family members and take a short walk in the garden.

Benson usually ends her day around 7 p.m. When she’s especially excited, she’ll stay up till 11 p.m. talking to her roommate, Bolotsky said.

Benson was asked for words of wisdom when she marked 108 years and 6 months in March, but the supercentenarian said she wasn’t very wise.

Lowe disagreed and reminded her mother of the wise way she’d raised her children.

Benson has always had an affable disposition even when stressed, her daughter said. But lately, she’s a bit more irritated when she’s tired.

“I think she’s worn out, basically,” Lowe said.

When once asked how long she thinks she’ll live, Benson quipped, “Who knows? Do you know how long you’re going to live?”

Then, after a pause, she added, “Forever.”