ELIZABETH CROMER

In an era when women were considered primarily homemakers, Elizabeth Cromer decided early in life she would tackle much bigger challenges.

For her, mops and brooms gave way to cleats and shoulder pads. She played football against the big boys as a ninth-grader at Union Area High School in New Castle, Pennsylvania.

“I was the only girl on the entire team and one of the top players,” she recalls. “The boys treated me nice, but I’m not sure if they liked me very much, because I was very difficult to tackle. I would get out there on that field and run like crazy.”

Elizabeth, who turned 100 in September, has not slowed down much. A resident of The Cove at Tavares Village, Elizabeth faithfully takes morning and afternoon walks outside with the assistance of a walker.

Excuses to avoid exercises simply don’t fly with this fearless centenarian, who has been an avid walker her entire life.

“If it’s raining, I just take my walk inside the facility or I’ll patiently wait for the rain to stop and walk outside,” she says. “I’ve always been active and always will be. That’s what keeps a person alive. If you remain idle as you grow older, you might as well be dead.”

Her active lifestyle seems to have worked well for Elizabeth, who wears no glasses, contacts or hearing aids.

“I wake up each morning feeling great,” she says. “My heart is good, my lungs are good and my eyesight is good. I really have nothing to complain about. If you have the good Lord on your side, then you are already on top.”

Elizabeth was born Sept. 7, 1914. She owned a bridal shop in Pennsylvania and often coordinated events for her church.

“I got church members together for games and activities,” says Elizabeth, who has one daughter and two grandchildren. “I was very active in the church and always doing something. I hated being idle.”

That still holds true today.

“You remain active and you remain alive,” she says. “It’s that simple. I despise being inactive because it makes me feel worthless. I tell other people around my age that if they say they can do something, then they will achieve it.”

Countries With The Most Centenarians

1) United States: 71,991

2) Japan: 44,449

3) France: 16,891

4) United Kingdom: 11,600

5) Germany: 8,839

6) Canada: 6,530

7) Spain: 5,891

8) Australia: 3,700

SOURCE: 247wallst.com/investing/2011/07/12/countries-with-the-most-people-over-100/2/

WHERE DO MOST CENTENARIANS LIVE?

RESIDENTIAL OR CARE HOME: 61%

HOSPITAL: 27%

HOME: 10%

HOSPICE CARE: .02%

SOURCE: cnn.com/2014/06/04/health/centenarian-death/

AS OF SEPTEMBER 2014, THERE WERE SIX PEOPLE ALIVE WHO WERE BORN IN THE 19TH CENTURY:

Misao Okawa of Japan was born MARCH 5, 1898.

Gertrude Weaver of the United States was born JULY 4, 1898.

Jeralean Talley of the United States was born MAY 23, 1899.

Susannah Jones of the United States was born JULY 6, 1899.

Bernice Madigan of the United States was born JULY 24, 1899.

Emma Morano of Italy was born NOV. 29, 1899.

Law Of Averages

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, life expectancy in the United States has increased to 75 YEARS, up from 67 just 15 years ago.

YOU GO GIRL IN 2010, 82% OF CENTENARIANS IN THE UNITED STATES WERE FEMALE.

THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ESTIMATES THERE WILL BE MORE THAN

1 MILLION