A woman for the ages

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Margaret Karassik said she was going to the movies with her two sons and she wanted to make sure she got her senior citizen’s discount.

“I told my son, Irwin, to make sure he mentioned my senior status when he bought my ticket,” Karassik said.

Karassik turned 101 years old on Nov. 3. Her sons – Irwin and Carl – are 80 and 76, respectively.

“Irwin said to me, ‘Mother, we’re all senior citizens.’ That’s when it hit me,” she said. “I think it ruined the movie for me.”

Karassik was joking about the incident while swimming at the John Heinz Institute therapeutic pool Wednesday. She recalled her life – her jobs, her travel and the places she has lived. She recalled them all with clarity and told stories about everything and everywhere.

“We are all constantly amazed at what she can do,” Carl Karassik said. “She puts us all to shame both physically and mentally.”

Karassik said she loves the pool at Heinz. She said a lot of patients come there and Karassik tries to make them feel better.

“Some of them look like they’ve lost hope,” Karassik said. “I like to talk to them and tell them about my life and I bring smiles to their faces. Some patients just need a little hope and if I can give them that, then I’m happy.”

Karassik said she was born in England and moved to Montreal when she was very young. She spent many years in New York, working a government job on Long Island. Her husband, Boris, died in 1945.

When asked to what she attributes her longevity and good health, Karassik didn’t hesitate.

“I worked hard all my life,” she said. “I remember working for the government and my first job dealt with nuts and bolts. I didn’t know a nut from a bolt, so when they asked if I could type, I jumped at the chance.”

Karassik lived in Boca Raton, Florida, since 1978 before she moved to Northeastern Pennsylvania last year.

Carl’s wife, Dolly, had a stroke and she receives therapy at John Heinz. Margie is living at Wesley Village in an assisted living setting. Carl said he and his brother wanted to have their mom closer to them.

“She needs a minimum of assistance,” Carl said. “If her hearing and eyesight weren’t failing, she could be living independently.”

Margie likes to read, but she hasn’t been able to do that much lately because of her deteriorating eyesight. Carl said audio books aren’t an option because of her hearing loss.

Kelly Martin Johnson, director of recreation therapy at John Heinz, said Karassik has been a joy to have around.

“She’s so good with our patients; she makes everyone feel good,” Johnson said. “She’s a spitfire.”

Karassik always has a smile on her face; she said she can’t wait to face each day.

“I feel like I’m one of God’s chosen people,” she said. “How you live is up to each person; if you wake up grouchy, that’s the way people will think of you. If you smile, as they say, the world will smile with you.”

Karassik said she has not adhered to any special dietary rules; she did say she doesn’t eat much fried food.

“But as you can see, my whole body is out of shape,” she said with a laugh. “You know, I once had a beautiful shape.”

Karassik got out of the pool and walked around talking to other patients and staff. She tells of her love for politics – she watches CNN all the time. “I’m pretty upset with FOX (TV),” she said.