Dozens of students surprised Arline Dabill, of Neenah, as she celebrates her 100th birthday by singing to her and giving her cards, September 18, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
NEENAH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The sounds of children returned to a Neenah neighborhood to honor a woman turning 100 years old.
Arline Dabill lived across from Roosevelt School since 1960. She also worked on the school’s playground.
The school was torn down earlier this year and Dabill’s front yard became much quieter.
On Wednesday, four busloads of students from Alliance Charter School surprised Dabill by singing happy birthday to her.
Dabill said it filled a big void in her heart.
“I love them so dearly and I miss their sweet voices. I’d come out on the porch just to hear them. They were music to my ears, something I looked so forward to every morning,” she said. “Everyone has been so kind to me and I’m so fortunate at 100 years old to be able to still enjoy children, people, I love people.”
She received dozens of birthday cards from the children as well.
Dabill offered some words of wisdom as well.
“A young chap, a middle-aged man I should say, came over the other day and said he was my paper boy. We were in this home 64 years, so probably 60 years ago, he said I paid him with a silver dollar. He said, ‘I still have it.’ Those are things that just touch your heart. They take the time, that’s what we have to do, we have to take the time and smell the roses. Hard work, common sense, that’s what I did my whole 100 years.”
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