MILFORD — Dozens of people, including friends, family and some former students, turned out Sunday to celebrate the 100th birthday of Doris McQuade Rebidue, one of the first female school principals in Milford's elementary school.

Doris was born in Peterborough and moved to Milford during World War II while her husband, Roy was serving overseas, said her daughter Beverly Ansaldo during a party for Doris at the VFW Hall in Milford on Sunday.

“I've known her all my life,” said Shea McGrath, whose father worked with Doris' husband. “She's just a very nice person who speaks well of everyone and who just keeps going despite her age.”

Doris graduated from Keene State College and got her start working with kids as a teacher in one-room school houses in Lyndeborough, including the North School, the Johnson Corner School and the Center School. 1n 1949, she started teaching sixth grade in Milford, and in 1958, she was named principal of Milford Elementary School. She retired from education in 1978.

“I missed it very much at first,” she said. “But I've had a lot of fun since.”

Doris has traveled the world, taking her last big trip at the age of 92 to Australia, New Zealand and Italy. She said she's only doing day trips these days, but otherwise her age hasn't slowed her down.

“I feel wonderful,” she said. “It's been a wonderful life.”

Doris said she's seen a lot of changes in the century since she was born including two world wars, the invention of the television and the microwave oven, and the birth of the internet. In her younger days, things were a lot simpler.

“When I grew up we had kerosene lamps and got around by horse and buggy,” she said. “Today things are very different.”

Though she's passed the century mark, Doris hasn't slowed down much and doesn't plan to.

“How many people get to live to be 100?” said her daughter. “And she still lives alone, is always out and about and loves playing cards a couple times a week.”

“She's an inspiration to all of us,” said her niece Judy Pearcy, and another niece, Susan Babine, said Doris's love of life runs in the family.

“Her mother was the same way. She lived a very long life and was always going,” said Babine.

nfoster@newstote.com