A woman in Pennsylvania who is close to turning 100 has recently given birth to her 100th great-grandchild.
In a few months, Marguerite Koller, 99, of Blue Bell, will be 100 years old.
However, she was able to commemorate the event earlier this month with the arrival of Koller William, her 100th great-grandchild, who was named in honour of her late husband.
Marguerite, who also has 11 children and 56 grandkids, said to NBC Philadelphia as she hugged the newest member of the family, “I’m just thinking how happy I am.”
Her family has previously said that she makes an effort to attend every baptism and graduation.
Her granddaughter, Christine Balster, told the local TV station that she “has established an unbelievable legacy extending across generations.”
However, Marguerite thought about entering a convent and becoming a nun, so that family nearly never materialised.
When she was a junior in high school, she submitted an application to enter the community convent, she told 6 ABC back in 2015, but during the early 1940s, she met William Koller of Manayunk, who she claimed “talked me out of it.”
After World War II, during the Baby Boom, the couple had their first child because Marguerite was determined to have a big family.
She told 6 ABC, “I wanted to have a huge family.” Being an only kid, in my opinion, is challenging and lonely.
She said that at first, she “figured I wanted 12,” but after she had them, she “wasn’t sure I wanted that many.”
Instead, she decided on 11 kids, who were born over over 20 years.
She received 56 grandkids from them, who went on to have 100 great-grandchildren of their own.
Since her husband’s death in 2008, she has credited her large family with keeping her busy and helping her feel fortunate on every holiday.
She said in 2015 that “everything worked out nicely.”