MENDOTA – A local Mendota woman is turning 100-years-old tomorrow, January 24th. Vern Sommerville, was born and raised in Peru and raised her three sons with her husband Glenn on a farm in Mendota. Somerville taught at Blackstone Elementary in Mendota for 27 years, frequently donating hand-made school bags to needy students. Sommerville’s eldest son Duane, says she lives at Mendota Lutheran nursing home, where some of her former students now work. Duane says he believes his mother is a natural survivor, as she lived through devastating times like The Great Depression. He says she still enjoys crocheting, doing crossword puzzles to keep her mind sharp, and gardening. There will be an open house celebration for Vern Sommerville at the Mendota Civic Center on Saturday from 1:30 p.m to 3:30 p.m.
