Next week, a longtime Waterloo resident will celebrate her 100th birthday.

Lena Woodcock, who turns 100 on July 24, has seen a lot in that time.

Since 1914, the United States has been through two world wars, the Great Depression, 17 presidents, the addition of two states and countless other events across the country and world.

Woodcock attributes her long life to “clean living” (not smoking or drinking) and is still able to live in her house by herself.

Though she wasn’t born in Monroe County, she has lived in the same house in Waterloo for 67 years. Woodcock was born in Pennsylvania, but grew up mostly in Missouri.

“My parents came to Sullivan, Missouri, because times were hard,” she said. “We were looking for work. My father and brother came and found jobs and then sent for us. It was a hard situation.”

After meeting her husband in St. Louis, where they both worked at a sewing factory, the pair got married and decided to move over to Waterloo six years later.

“Monroe County is much bigger than it was when I moved here,” she said. “I still like living here, but it’s not the town I came to in the beginning.”

She said they moved over to Waterloo after they had children so they would have a place to play outside.

Woodcock has been a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church since she moved here, and it’s where she will celebrate her birthday surrounded by family, friends and fellow parishioners.

Woodcock still plays cards with her friends regularly — “not for money, just for fun,” she says.

“It’s something that keeps our minds going,” she said. “We sometimes talk more than we play.”

She also visits with her family members, since many of them live nearby.

Out of her three children, two of them live here in Waterloo. Gerald and Marilyn are only a few minutes away, but Charles lives in Florida.

“I have 11 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren,” she said.

Her family is hosting a big open house party for her from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, at Immanuel Lutheran followed by a family supper.

“I don’t have to do anything except show up,” she said with a laugh. “It’s been a long time since we’ve all gotten together.”

As for her 100 years, Woodcock counts her blessings every day, not just each July 24.

“These days, every day I wake up is a birthday,” she said