FAIRBURY - Hazel Karcher, who'll be 102 in September, barely feels 80. Her secret? She keeps her mind active by reminiscing.

Five other centenarians at Fairview Haven and Suites do the same.

Sally Fehr, social service director at Fairview, thinks that may be one reason for the women's longevity.

"According to research, if you keep the mind active it helps," Fehr said.

Karcher reads newspapers and books and has a parakeet, Toby, to interact with.

She also thinks a lot about her family, as do the other centenarians at Fairview.

At other times, Karcher may reminisce about her career as a clerk at a dime store in Forrest, remembering that one of her favorite duties at the store was putting together Easter baskets.

If she thinks back even farther, she'll remember growing up on a farm in rural Forrest, where two brothers fell ill with infantile paralysis. Some of their peers didn't want to be around them as a result, and neighbors would bring food by but leave it outside their door.

Katherine Parkhill, who will be 102 in May, has plenty of memories to keep her mind active as well.

She remembers enjoying tennis, roller skating, ice skating, horseback riding and swimming.

"The backstroke and sidestroke were my best," she said, adding that she broke an arm horseback riding.

She heard her first radio in 1925 and remembers going to the movies to watch "Gone With the Wind."

Parkhill also reminisces about working as a registered nurse. Passing the state nursing boards was a highlight of her life, along with marrying and having a son.

She thinks about going on her honeymoon to California on Route 66 back when Route 66 was still a gravel road.

Cecelia Whately, who turned 101 in January; Laura Lindenbaum, who turned 100 in February and Anna Steffen and Alta Smith, who both turned 100 last month, are the others in the centenarian club at Fairview, which has about 60 nursing home residents.

"It's unusual. I've been here 10 years and we've never had that many before," said Fehr.

"It's very special to have that many reaching that milestone," agreed Jason Speaks, policy and legislative coordinator of Life Services Network, an association of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

"It shows they are living life to the fullest and receiving quality care," said Speaks.

Lindenbaum is a good example of living life to the fullest, crediting "hard work and good exercise as well as good eating habits" for her longevity.

Growing up on a farm in the Strawn area meant she worked hard all day and went to bed when the sun set.

The simple life extended to attending a one-room schoolhouse south of Strawn, where a good school experience led to thoughts of being a teacher. She ended up as a bookkeeper instead.

Living through the Great Depression made an impression on Lindenbaum. "Everyone should live through a depression to get their priorities straight," said the woman, who counts Abraham Lincoln among her heroes because "he served the country well and had wisdom for the times."

The best thing that happened in her life, she said, was "meeting my friend and companion for life - my dear husband."

Steffen, who also grew up on a farm, remembers singing to the chickens and cows while doing her farm chores and driving a horse and buggy to school.

Later, she and her husband, who farmed, were noted for their Ayrshire cows and Hereford hogs.

When Whately reminisces, it may be about being Fairbury Citizen of the Year in 1995.

She may recall with fondness, as well, Lawrence Welk music, watching the Cubs and traveling extensively in the U.S. and foreign countries.

Nowadays, she enjoys weekly lunches with her son, Charles.

Smith reminisces about dances at her parents' farmhouse, where her father played fiddle, her brother banjo and her sister guitar. She recalls suffering from typhoid when young.

Smith credits God for her longevity. "I've always lived close to the Lord and he lives close to me," she said.

Smith, who celebrated her 100th birthday last month, was a school cook for more than two decades.

Though the women are thankful for much, several are concerned about the future.

"The world's getting worse, worse, worse," Smith said.

Steffen put it this way:

"We all need to pray for the world situation and our leaders…"