Mildred Baron, who was born in 1918, credits her positive mindset for seeing her through the Great Depression, World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic
For centenarian Mildred Baron, life is all about having a positive mindset.
The Freehold, N.J., resident, who celebrated her 107th birthday in June, is sharing her simple secret to enjoying a long and happy life.
“Be very calm, be peaceful and adopt my saying: ‘This too shall pass,’ ” she told local outlet Asbury Park Press (APP).
Baron said that spirit has carried her through many ups and downs across the decades. Born in 1918 to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was a toddler when the Prohibition era began in the U.S. She then experienced World War II, the Great Depression and the COVID-19 pandemic.
She recalled watching all of the men she knew get drafted into the war in ’40s. “But as I said, that too, passed,” she noted.
Baron also remembered standing in breadlines during the Great Depression and her mother feeding her family of five with a single sack of potatoes.
During WWII, Baron found a job in accounting and continued the occupation for 42 years until her retirement.
These days, she enjoys a full life that includes eating spicy foods, creating 3D art and attending afternoon cocktail parties with friends. After joking to APP that beer is her drink of choice, Baron quickly changed her answer to ginger ale.
“Can’t go wrong with that,” she said.
Baron also relishes time with family, including her 80-year-old daughter, Bonnie Greenstein, two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
“She just gets it,” Greenstein told the outlet.
Shortly before her 100th birthday in 2018, Baron moved into the Applewood Village senior living community, where she is “always the life of the party,” according to the residence’s executive director, Keith Grady. “She’s always been a concerned resident for others, just a real great neighbor to have,” he said.
As for her hopes for the future, Baron told APP that she would “like to see peace in this world.”
“All over,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll see it, but hopefully it’ll happen someday.”
Baron is one of 2,367 residents in New Jersey who are 100 years old or older as of 2025, according to World Population Review. She is five years younger than the oldest verified living person in the state, 112-year-old Launa Mitchell of Lakewood, according to LongeviQuest.
Sugar & Spice
Mildred Baron is the talk of the town at the independent living residency Applewood Village in Freehold, NJ. At 107 years old, Baron dispenses her secrets to longevity and happiness like a coveted commodity. Born on June 1, 1918, in Brooklyn, NY, she stays very close to her only daughter, Bonnie, who is 80 and says family is everything. Growing up during the Great Depression, living through World War II, and surviving the COVID-19 pandemic, she has always espoused the motto that, “This too shall pass.”
A positive outlook and a focus on the little things, such as reading a good book and admiring the flowers, keep her thriving. Add in a busy social calendar, a best friend, and spicy food and Baron is one happy 107-year-old.
Q: What do you look forward to every day?
A: Every day that I wake up and I am still here I look forward to. I am always with one of my dearest friends, Lillian Sailor, who always makes the day better. Together, we play bingo and Rummikub. We see movies and opera here at Applewood Village. And of course, our monthly cocktail parties. I also love art and spicy food, like jalapeños. I used to create 3D pictures using tiny pieces of paper until I turned 105.
Q: To what do you attribute your long life?
A: I think it’s about having a calm and laid-back personality, a devoted family that makes sure I am well taken care of, and loving friends. I believe these are the main reasons I have lived a long, full life.
Q: What do you wish you had started doing earlier in life?
A: I wish I had started having children at an earlier age. My daughter, Bonnie, is so wonderful. I wish I were able to have more children like her. But Bonnie gave me my delightful grandchildren, which made up for that.
Q: How can readers thrive like you?
A: My advice is to try not to dwell on the past. If you can bend a little, life will be more pleasant.
Print these articles:
PDF: Mildred’s Q&A in Thriving Magazine
People.com Article: 107-Year-Old_Woman_Reveals_Her_Simple_Secret_to_a_Long_and_Happy_Life
