ANITA DOEBLER

We may all scream for ice cream, but 106-year-old Anita Doebler seems to live for it.

Most days, she can be found somewhere inside Brookdale at Tavares enjoying a scoop of her favorite flavor — chocolate.

“Ice cream is the love of my life,” she says. “Eating ice cream gives me something to look forward to every day.”

At 106, there’s certainly nothing wrong with being smitten with ice cream. Just call it a sweet addiction.

Not surprisingly, ice cream dominates the conversation as she recalls her favorite life memories. Her love affair with the popular frozen treat began as a girl working at her parents’ ice cream parlor in Tonawanda, New York.

“I helped them out in the parlor and always enjoyed eating the ice cream,” she says. “Back in those days ice cream came in 5-gallon containers. Frozen ice was placed around each container, so we’d have to beat it with a hammer.”

It would be a stretch to say ice cream has contributed to her long life. And Anita is the fi rst to admit she’s not always a healthy eater.

“The other day I cleared everything on my plate,” she says proudly, “except broccoli.”

However, laughter may be Anita’s key to longevity. It’s rare you’ll see her without a smile, and she particularly enjoys laughing at herself.

“Several weeks ago a minister was preaching at our community on Sunday,” she says. “I was in the front row and slept throughout the entire sermon. I never heard a word he said and fi nally ous in bingo and dominoes, as well.

“I used to do crossword puzzles all the time but now they’re a nuisance,” she says, laughing. “I don’t do them anymore.”

Another thing Anita enjoys is going outside with her walker and tending to the rose bush planted for her when she reached 105.

“I told them not to plant me another rose bush until I’m 110,” she says.

Without question, staff members and residents at Brookdale at Tavares are drawn to her happy-go-lucky attitude.

“She’s always happy and just goes with the flow,” says Executive Director Lynn Haynes. “She gets along with anybody and everybody.” woke up when he quit talking. Maybe I was just praying with my eyes closed. I get a chuckle from some of the crazy things I do.”

She is also actively engaged in mind-stimulating activities. After moving to Brookdale at Tavares more than two years ago, Anita introduced the community to the card game Rummikub and remains the undisputed champion. She often emerges victori-

Anita was born July 25, 1908. During her young adult years, she served as a housewife, raising three boys and a girl. She was also a faithful churchgoer and always remained independent. As a matter of fact, she drove an automobile until reaching 100, then made the conscious decision to stop.

“I figured there were already enough crazy drivers on the road,” she jokes. “Why should I add to that number?”