ST. CLAIRSVILLE — As Eastern Ohio celebrates Mother’s Day this weekend, Leota “Poochie” Lappert-Meder is reflecting on life and parenthood as she gears up to turn 100 years old next week.

Born May 15, 1925, to Mary and Charles Lappert, the Bellaire native said she has seen many changes in her lifetime. She added that the biggest change she’s seen involves the more permissive way that people parent their children today.

“Parents let their children get away with more stuff today than they did years ago,” she said. “Children tell their parents what to do rather than vice versa.”

Lappert-Meder was married twice, first to Don Clendenin for 20 years. The couple had one daughter, Sherri Clendenin.

“My mom is the definition of unconditional love. She taught me the importance of kindness, resilience and always finding joy in the little things. Her strength is a gift that continues to inspire me every day,” Sherri Clendenin said.

Lappert-Meder said following her separation from her first husband, she married Bill Meder in 1965. They were married until he died in 1986.

“Bill Meder was a good man, one of the best men I ever knew in my life,” Lappert-Meder said.

She recalls meeting Medar when she was working at a drug store in Bellaire. He worked as a postmaster, and they would always wave at each other when he would come to the store. Then one day they decided to go out on a date. The rest is history.

She added that she and Meder traveled to various destinations, saying that some of her favorite trips were when she visited the Queen Mary ship, Las Vegas, Canada, Mexico and visiting a condominium that she once owned in Florida.

She said her family means everything to her and added that regardless of what they are doing, if she calls them they show up for her.

Lappert-Meder grew up with two brothers, Ron and the late Charles Lappert.

“When I was about 9 years old, I think my mother must have planted this in my head. I told her we needed a baby. So she said, ‘Well, save your pennies and when you get the jar full, we’ll buy a baby.’ So she put a vase on the mantle, and when I got that vase filled up with money, I bought a baby,” she said, laughing as she made a connection between that memory and her memory of when she found out she was going to have a baby brother.

As an adult, Lappert-Meder said she worked several jobs over the years, but her favorite job was being the head cook at Bellaire High School’s cafeteria for 17 years. She said that one week out of each school year she would do an international foods week, when she would prepare food from a different country each day of the week. She then laughed, recounting that the students’ favorite day of the international foods week would be at the end, when she would serve hot dogs as America’s day on Friday.

While reflecting on what turning 100 years old means to her, she said that she recalls seeing a woman in the newspaper who turned 100 and said that it was her goal to get her picture in the newspaper for being 100 years old.

She added that also expects to receive a letter from the President of the United States because the president traditionally sends letters of congratulations to citizens who turn 100 years old.

Lappert-Meder said she plans to spend her 100th birthday Thursday with friends and family. The staff at Forest Hills Retirement Center where she lives will be throwing her a birthday party.