Since birth, Margaret Derry and Marguerite Dahlmann have shared that special bond between identical twins.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a link the sisters have enjoyed for 100 years.

Margaret and Marguerite were honoured with a special party in Vernon on Wednesday, Jan. 10, less than 24 hours before the pair officially became centenarians.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been connected since Day 1,B次元官网网址� said Marguerite, who lives at a care home in Vernon, just a few kilometres away from her sister. Margaret resides with her surviving child, a daughter named Cookie.

Day 1 was Jan. 11, 1924, in Saskatoon. The sisters lived with their parents, Tony and Ida Willems, and two older brothers Carroll and Arthur (who have passed) on the Prairies before dad moved the family west to the Village of Lumby, where he found work as a a sawyer and millwright.

Margaret B次元官网网址� the older of the twins by 10 minutes B次元官网网址� and Marguerite attended school in Lumby. Like most twins, they got into some shenanigans with their looks.

B次元官网网址淲hen the opportunity arose to play a joke, we took advantage of it,B次元官网网址� laughed Marguerite. B次元官网网址淲e used to change seats in school to fool the teachers.B次元官网网址滲次元官网网址�

The sisters graduated high school in Lumby, and before marrying a soldier in Lumby B次元官网网址� where Margaret was a bridesmaid B次元官网网址� Marguerite attended McEwen College in Vernon, studying bookkeeping, accounting, and stenography.

The marriage broke up after several moves, and Marguerite found herself in Terrace, where she met a man named Fred Dahlmann while working in the office at a local sawmill. They married (Margaret was the matron of honour this time) and had a son, Dieter. They left Terrace because of the constant rain and returned to Lumby, where Dieter still lives.

Meanwhile, Margaret remained in the North Okanagan.

She married Bob Derry B次元官网网址� Marguerite was living in Ontario at that time and could not be part of the wedding party B次元官网网址� and the pair stayed in Lumby to raise their three kids.

B次元官网网址淚 helped out at home. I did a lot of community work in those days, volunteering for everything,B次元官网网址� said Margaret.

Ah yes. Volunteering.

ItB次元官网网址檚 been at the heart of both sistersB次元官网网址� lives.

ItB次元官网网址檚 one of the keys, Marguerite said, to making it to 100. Margaret has spent three-quarters of her life helping out around the community. Both have volunteered in the village for the United Church, Pythian Sisters and the Legion Ladies Auxiliary.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just something you did,B次元官网网址� said Margaret matter of factly.

As the two blue-eyed siblings each enjoyed a piece of white cake with red frosting, they took a minute to reflect on what turning 100 means to them.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 surprised by it all, and grateful for my family,B次元官网网址� said Marguerite, who referred to Dieter as B次元官网网址渕y backbone.B次元官网网址�

In identical twin fashion, Margaret gave the same answer, calling Cookie B次元官网网址渕y saving grace.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e grateful weB次元官网网址檝e been able to enjoy 100 years,B次元官网网址� said Margaret. B次元官网网址淭he quality of your life is far more important than the quantity. My family has kept me going.B次元官网网址�

The sisters received handmade birthday cards from three- and four-year-olds at a Vernon daycare centre, which touched their collective hearts.

Asked what she wanted for her birthday, Margaret joked and said loud enough for Cookie to hear, B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to live with my daughter.B次元官网网址�

And Marguerite?

B次元官网网址淚 want to be 101. WeB次元官网网址檒l be back next year,B次元官网网址� she said emphatically.

M and M are believed to be among only a handful of living identical twins aged 100 or more in the world. The oldest recorded living twin sisters turned 107 in Japan in 2021.