The United States was about to enter the First World War, Ireland’s struggle for independence was already a year old and American women’s right to vote was still a few years away when Esther Ristow of Oak Lawn was born.
Ristow celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday surrounded by five generations of family members at the Hilton in Oak Lawn.
Guests arrived from around the country for the milestone event, including grandchildren in their 50s, several great grandchildren and even a great-great grandchild.
“I think it’s awesome,” Ristow’s granddaughter Renee Corsi said of the momentous occasion. “She’s my grandma and my best friend.”
One person Ristow had hoped would have been able to make it to the party was her husband of 73 years, Ray Ristow. But he died four years ago at the age of 96.
“He thought he would surely make it,” she said.
Ristow said Ray had very much wanted them both to make it to 100 and at least celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary.
Family members said he died from complications sometime after falling down the stairs and suffering a broken hip.
Granddaughter Robbin Russell said she has been inspired by the devotion her grandparents showed to each other for nearly three quarters of a century.
When Ray was in the hospital with his broken hip she said her grandmother would kiss him and tell him to hurry back home.
“She showed us an example of what love is,” Russell said as she began to tear up.
Ristow said her husband had worked as an engineer and made buoys for the Navy during World War II.
Later, she said he was involved in the meat industry.
Ristow recalled how she and her husband traveled to Soviet-era Poland in the early 1970s so he could build a sausage factory there.
She remembers seeing men with machine guns everywhere and they were constantly followed by a mysterious man but “otherwise, they left us alone.”
Ray and Esther lived in the same house in Oak Lawn for 60 years and were very involved in their Catholic Church community, helping to found St. Germaine Parish more than 50 years ago.
Granddaughter Rhonda Miller remembers growing up in that house having lived just down the street.
“Family has always been very important to her,” she said.
Miller said she often talks to her grandmother as a great resource for wisdom and historical references and is amazed by how mentally alert she still is at 100.
“I think she’s impressive,” said Ristow’s granddaughter, Rhonda Miller, who arrived from Oregon. “Just to see her continue to walk around and be so active, she makes me feel young.”
In fact, Ristow still stays very active these days doing many household chores by herself and maintaining a garden.
Son Raymond said he feels very lucky to have good longevity genes.
He said his aunt, Ristow’s sister, also lived to be 102.
Family members said they’ll reunite annually to celebrate Ristow’s upcoming birthdays.
In revealing the “secret” to long life Ristow said, “I think being happy has a lot to do with it.”
Frank Vaisvilas is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
