T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA 103-year-old Ann O’Donnell celebrates her birthday dancing with Southern Care Hospice consultant Dan Curtis at Senior Suites at St. Clair Commons.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Ann O’Donnell spent her 103rd birthday by dancing the day away.

O’Donnell, a resident at Senior Suites at St. Clair Commons, spent Wednesday afternoon celebrating with family, friends, staff, and other suite residents in the building’s dining room.

O’Donnell was born and raised in Yorkville and served as a mechanic in the Navy during World War II. Following her time in the Navy, she worked at Honeywell Aerospace Technology as an airplane mechanic which was contracted by NASA.

She said that one of the most memorable moments of her career was being at the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger. She has visited multiple countries, but doesn’t have a favorite place.

“Everywhere I went, I liked. In fact, every once in a while, I receive cards from people that I met while traveling,” O’Donnell said. “A lot of places that I went to only had one road going up, and that was it. I really got to see a lot of different worlds.”

O’Donnell has family across the United States. She spent a majority of her adult life in Minneapolis with her husband of 70 years, Arthur O’Donnell, who died in 2008. The couple raised two sons, 70-year-old Patrick O’Donnell, and 77-year-old Michael O’Donnell. She has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

O’Donnell retired as a mechanic in 1988 at age 65. She worked at Sam’s Club until 2024, where she officially retired from working at 101 years old.

Activities Director Emily Baker said that O’Donnell is the oldest resident to have ever lived at the residence. Despite her age, O’Donnell is still incredibly active and doesn’t use a cane, walker, or need assistance walking.

Her great niece Stephanie Kropka said that O’Donnell still loves to go shopping at the Ohio Valley Mall and eat at Cracker Barrel and Mehlman’s Cafeteria.

Kropka said that she’s incredibly thankful for Senior Suites hosting O’Donnell’s birthday party.

“I think it’s wonderful. Senior Suites takes good care of Aunt Ann and they’re always smiling with her,” Kropka said. “She loves doing karaoke and dancing down here, so she’s pretty active.”

She added that she has a monthly trip with O’Donnell where they go to either Cracker Barrel and Mehlman’s Cafeteria and as soon as she sees Kropka, she starts dancing.

Baker said she and the entire staff thought it was important to celebrate her 103rd birthday and make it as special for her as possible.

“We just love her. She’s just an extraordinary person, and she’s very interesting. She’s lived a great life,” Baker said. “Ann came to us about a year ago, and she’s just been a delight ever since. Really, she makes everybody smile. She clearly dances with everybody, that’s her thing.”