Woman plans to celebrate 102nd birthday with rare solar eclipse

MOOERS, N.Y. (WPTZ) - The countdown is on for the total solar eclipse that will be seen over several cities in the United States on April 8.

But a northern New York woman is gearing up for what she calls a “momentous occasion” in more ways than one.

Dot Pelkey is originally from Altona and used to be a Georgia-Pacific employee in Plattsburgh, but she’s been a retired resident at Watson Memorial Housing in Mooers for the last 11 years.

At 101 years old, she’s still very active, going on daily walks and socializing with her fellow neighbors.

“I get along with all of them. I can tell them off sometimes, but I get along with them I think,” Pelkey said. “I love them all and they’re all so good to me.”

Pelkey is set to celebrate her 102nd birthday on April 8, the same day as the total solar eclipse, and she can hardly wait.

“I’m anxious and I want to live to see it,” Pelkey said. “I didn’t want to live to my birthday. I want to live to see this, and I guess I’ll make it. It’s not too far away.”

It won’t be her first time experiencing the phenomenon. She remembers the last time something like this happened back in 1932.

“It wasn’t complete,” Pelkey remembered. “This is going to be a complete one. The other one had a little bit. I wasn’t very old, but I remember talking about it more than anything.”

Everyone at the retirement home is thrilled for the eclipse and her birthday to coincide.

Lisa Delong works with Pelkey at the home.

“It’s especially important for somebody who’s going to be turning 102 on that day, so it just seems very symbolic of the times,” Delong said.

And Pelkey is determined to see it.

“It’s one thing in a lifetime. You don’t see that often, so I’m trying to be here to see it,” Pelkey said.

The total solar eclipse will be seen from parts of Mexico all the way to the upper East Coast.

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