Ethel Siegel is “having a ball” at 100

With the energy of someone half her age, Ethel Siegel strolled into the gathering room of the Rosen Jewish Community Center, excited to continue her birthday celebration. She has been eagerly awaiting her century birthday and said she is “having a ball” with all the attention.

Siegel, a resident of the Williamsburg community in Orlando, is a regular visitor at the JCC, in southwest Orlando, and on Dec. 21, the center threw her a 100th-birthday party. She delighted in being feted and walked from table to table to greet every one of her friends who was there.

“It's so fun,” Siegel said. “I always wanted to see what it felt like to be 100 because I was getting close. It's one wonderful day after another since Dec. 14.”

Friends have been taking Siegel out every night for a week.

“Since Thursday night, we went out to dinner, and everywhere we went (friend Doris Gilbert) said, ‘She's 100 today,’ and they gave me a free meal,” Siegel said. “And then we went to the movie and (Gilbert) said, “I want to see the manager,’ and I got a free movie.

“And then I went to the bank and told them it was my 100th birthday and asked if they would give me free money, and they laughed,” Siegel said, laughing at her own story.

Though she lives on her own, Siegel doesn’t drive anymore, so she relies on her “wonderful bunch of friends” who take her wherever she wants or needs to go.

“This is a fun, fun, wonderful place,” she said. “This place and the studio are the two greatest places to me.”

The studio is in downtown Orlando and is a gathering place for Central Florida artists. Siegel has been going there for years to work on her ceramic sculptures. She had her own art show in Orlando City Hall when she was 95 but has since had to give up her passion because her eyesight was failing.

She remains a popular artist at the studio, and other artists threw her a party last week, too. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer attended to wish Siegel a happy birthday.

The biggest party is still to come Dec. 30, when about 50 family members, including 20 children, come to Orlando from all parts of the country. Last year, the family voted to travel south in honor of Siegel for the annual get-together. Guests will include her daughter from New York and son from New Jersey.