Since birth, Margaret Derry and Marguerite Dahlmann have shared that special bond between identical twins.

It害羞草研究所檚 a link the sisters have enjoyed for 100 years.

Margaret and Marguerite were honoured with a special party in Vernon on Wednesday, Jan. 10, less than 24 hours before the pair officially became centenarians.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been connected since Day 1,害羞草研究所� said Marguerite, who lives at a care home in Vernon, just a few kilometres away from her sister. Margaret resides with her surviving child, a daughter named Cookie.

Day 1 was Jan. 11, 1924, in Saskatoon. The sisters lived with their parents, Tony and Ida Willems, and two older brothers Carroll and Arthur (who have passed) on the Prairies before dad moved the family west to the Village of Lumby, where he found work as a a sawyer and millwright.

Margaret 害羞草研究所� the older of the twins by 10 minutes 害羞草研究所� and Marguerite attended school in Lumby. Like most twins, they got into some shenanigans with their looks.

害羞草研究所淲hen the opportunity arose to play a joke, we took advantage of it,害羞草研究所� laughed Marguerite. 害羞草研究所淲e used to change seats in school to fool the teachers.害羞草研究所澓π卟菅芯克鶛

The sisters graduated high school in Lumby, and before marrying a soldier in Lumby 害羞草研究所� where Margaret was a bridesmaid 害羞草研究所� Marguerite attended McEwen College in Vernon, studying bookkeeping, accounting, and stenography.

The marriage broke up after several moves, and Marguerite found herself in Terrace, where she met a man named Fred Dahlmann while working in the office at a local sawmill. They married (Margaret was the matron of honour this time) and had a son, Dieter. They left Terrace because of the constant rain and returned to Lumby, where Dieter still lives.

Meanwhile, Margaret remained in the North Okanagan.

She married Bob Derry 害羞草研究所� Marguerite was living in Ontario at that time and could not be part of the wedding party 害羞草研究所� and the pair stayed in Lumby to raise their three kids.

害羞草研究所淚 helped out at home. I did a lot of community work in those days, volunteering for everything,害羞草研究所� said Margaret.

Ah yes. Volunteering.

It害羞草研究所檚 been at the heart of both sisters害羞草研究所� lives.

It害羞草研究所檚 one of the keys, Marguerite said, to making it to 100. Margaret has spent three-quarters of her life helping out around the community. Both have volunteered in the village for the United Church, Pythian Sisters and the Legion Ladies Auxiliary.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just something you did,害羞草研究所� said Margaret matter of factly.

As the two blue-eyed siblings each enjoyed a piece of white cake with red frosting, they took a minute to reflect on what turning 100 means to them.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 surprised by it all, and grateful for my family,害羞草研究所� said Marguerite, who referred to Dieter as 害羞草研究所渕y backbone.害羞草研究所�

In identical twin fashion, Margaret gave the same answer, calling Cookie 害羞草研究所渕y saving grace.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e grateful we害羞草研究所檝e been able to enjoy 100 years,害羞草研究所� said Margaret. 害羞草研究所淭he quality of your life is far more important than the quantity. My family has kept me going.害羞草研究所�

The sisters received handmade birthday cards from three- and four-year-olds at a Vernon daycare centre, which touched their collective hearts.

Asked what she wanted for her birthday, Margaret joked and said loud enough for Cookie to hear, 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 want to live with my daughter.害羞草研究所�

And Marguerite?

害羞草研究所淚 want to be 101. We害羞草研究所檒l be back next year,害羞草研究所� she said emphatically.

M and M are believed to be among only a handful of living identical twins aged 100 or more in the world. The oldest recorded living twin sisters turned 107 in Japan in 2021.