Vera Shagena experienced two once-in-a-lifetime events on Sunday, March 23.
Not only did the long-time Oxford resident celebrate her 89th birthday, she did it on an Easter Sunday that’s extremely rare in terms of its position on the calender. ‘I can’t ever remember my birthday being on Easter,? Shagena said.
There’s a very good reason for that. The last time Easter fell on March 23 was way back in 1913 ? six years before Shagena was born in Pontiac.
It’s safe to say neither Shagena nor anyone else on the planet will ever see another March 23 Easter. Astronomers said it won’t happen again until 2160.
Easter occurs on the first Sunday following the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox (i.e. the first day of spring).
Because the vernal equinox was on Thursday, March 20 and the first full moon happened Friday, March 21, Easter was celebrated on March 23 this year.
It will take 152 years for everything to line up this way again.
Disregarding astronomy, western Christian churches leave the vernal equinox fixed at March 21 every year, so the earliest Easter can ever occur is March 22, which won’t happen until 2285.
But all this technical stuff isn’t important to Shagena, who thoroughly enjoyed her big day.
‘Oh, I had just a wonderful time,? said Shagena, who moved to Oxford at age 15 and graduated from OHS in 1937.
Oxford United Methodist Church, where Shagena’s been a member for about 20 years, gave her a special birthday treat during its Easter celebration.
‘They announced it during the service and sang Happy Birthday to me,? she said.
The pastor then presented her with a beautiful windup music box that plays ‘In Your Easter Bonnet.?
After church, Shagena traveled to Bad Axe to celebrate Easter with one of her daughters and other family members.
‘They wished me Happy Easter and sang Happy Birthday and I was elated,? she said.
During her life, Shagena raised four boys and three girls. She’s now grandma to 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Shagena worked at National Twist Drill & Tool Company in Rochester for 23 years until her retirement.
But her favorite job was working as a caregiver for seniors and people with special needs. She did that for six years until age 81.
‘I enjoyed that the most,? she said.
A member of Oxford American Legion Auxiliary Unit 108 for 34 years, Shagena is a past president and currently serves as the group’s chaplain.
‘I’ve really enjoyed it,? she said. ‘I’ve done everything there. I’ve worked in the kitchen. I’ve sold poppies.?
When asked what’s the most important thing she’s learned in her 89 years on the planet, Shagena replied, ‘There’s good in everybody, so I always look for the good.?