Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Bishop David J. Bonnar surprised Mary Bundy on Wednesday when he showed up with flowers and a special blessing for her 100th birthday.

Residents of The Inn at Poland Way gathered Wednesday to celebrate a special birthday. New resident Mary Bundy will turn 100 on April 11, but the celebration was held early for all the residents, friends and family.

The big surprise of the evening was when Bishop David J. Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown showed up and gave Mary a blessing and prayer.

“We are awe-struck at what you have seen in your 100 years of life,” Bishop Bonnar said, as he referred to all the history Bundy has lived through.

Bundy’s life alone was a fascinating tale. She grew up in Youngstown, the daughter of Italian immigrants Antonio and Angelina DiBartolomeo, and graduated from South High School in 1944. She went on to work as a secretary for Youngstown Sheet and Tube, got married to Bob Bundy and then headed out west to help her husband’s sister in a women’s clothing business. She next went to work as a secretary for the Heublein Company, dealing with liquors and wines.

“It is where I learned a lot about wine,” Bundy said. “So I went from steel in Youngstown to liquor in California.”

She did get to meet some stars during her time there. She remembers meeting Zsa Zsa Gabor, Buddy Hackett, Della Reese and others.

“Della Reese was the sweetest lady,” Bundy said.

She lived in San Diego, where she said “one could experience all kinds of weather in just a day.”

Bundy retired from Heublien and in 1988, she and Bob moved back to the area and rented an apartment in Boardman. In 1989, Bundy fought and won a battle against breast cancer, making her a survivor. The couple stayed in the apartment until Bob passed away in 2008. Two years later Bundy moved into a condo in Boardman and a big surprise.

As a young woman, she became friends with Mary Carney. The two hung out together until Bundy moved to California.

“We lost track of each other,” Carney said. “Then she got a condo near mine and we renewed our friendship.”

Carney was at the birthday party along with all the residents. Besides the Bishop, several other dignitaries attended. Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Trafficanti attended and Poland Township Trustee Frank DeMain stopped by before the township meeting.

The Inn at Poland Way administrative assistant Jeffrey Vrabel Jr. read a variety of proclamations from state officials and congratulatory letters from former President George W. Bush and current President Donald J. Trump.

When asked what her secret was to long life, Bundy answered, “Eat healthy and be a mall walker.”