Local woman celebrates 100th birthday at Orchard Park with family, staff

FARMINGTON – Lee (Lambert) LeJoy recently celebrated her 100th birthay with family members and staff at Orchard Park Rehab and Living Center.

LeJoy was born in Haverhill, Mass., one of six siblings. She attended St. Joseph’s Parochial School, Haverhill High School, and then worked at the Bradford Hat Company where she became an accomplished seamstress.

She married Robert (Bob) LeJoy of Haverhill in June 1934. He was a bookkeeper and later a radio engineer.

In 1942, her first daughter, Ann, was born and Lee became a stay-at-home mom until attending the Fazio Beauty Institute and becoming a hairdresser in 1952. In 1958 her second daughter, Susan, was born.

LeJoy loved to sew, making beautiful clothes for herself and her daughters. She also loved to sketch and paint. She belonged to the Haverhill Arts Association and was at one time their publicity director.

She and Bob LeJoy loved the mountains of New Hampshire and Maine, spending all of their vacation time there with their children over the years. As a result of that influence, their daughters moved to Maine in the 1970s. In 2000, Lee and Bob LeJoy moved there permanently to join them.

In 2006, Bob LeJoy passed away at the age of 95 and Lee LeJoy went to live at Pinewood Terrace. In 2008, she moved to Orchard Park.

Daughters Ann and Susan said their mother  is “an exceptional parent — both of them were — kind, loving and affectionate. My sister and I couldn’t imagine having a different set of parents. We feel so fortunate that she has been able to spend these last years of her life at Orchard Park, where she has been respectfully treated, loved and so well cared for.”