Dorothy Creager, 90, dances at the annual Jewish Home for the Aging Mothers Day celebration Sunday. The event featured brunch, music, clowns and other family activities. (David Crane/Staff Photographer)
Leonore Marcus, bottem center, is joined by her family, clockwise from lower left, Gary Marcus, Marsha Marcus, Allison Marcus, David Tuckman and David Marcus at the annual Jewish Home for the Aging Mothers Day celebration Sunday. The event featured brunch, music, clowns and other family activities. (David Crane/Staff Photographer)
RESEDA - Surrounded by 27 members of her family and her 100-year-old boyfriend, Dorothy Creager said even if she had only a dollar to her name, she'd still feel like the richest woman in the world.
"I'm just floored," Creager, 90, said of all the attention. "I feel like a queen."
Creager, along with other moms and grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and even great-great grandmothers, were the center of attention inside the Los Angeles Jewish Home in Reseda on Sunday.
Billed as the World's Largest Mother's Day celebration, the popular event brings more than 1,000 people together to revere moms, and even women who are like moms - aunts and friends of the family, who live at the home.
Along with a brunch of bagels and lox and pretty pink frosted cookies shaped like butterflies, the annual event offered live music and entertainment all throughout the brightly decorated facility, such as clowns and jugglers.
Creager's family included two sons, her daughter, in-laws, five granddaughters and seven great grandchildren.
"For my family, this is one of those events where everyone comes together," said Todd Creager, Dorothy's son, who drove in from Orange County for the event. "It's a great way to honor your mother."
Jeannette Slomoff, 91, clapped hands to the traditional Hebrew song "Hava Nagila," as she and her daughter, Lois Steinberg, sat close together.
"It's fabulous," Steinberg said, as Slomoff nodded in
agreement. "I wouldn't miss this."Started in 1912, the Jewish Home has evolved into a multi-level senior living facility. The average resident age is 90 years old, six years above the national average, according to officials from the home.
The majority of the residents are women, said Bonnie Polishuk, spokeswoman for the home. About 30 percent of the residents may not have a relative close by, but take part in the Mother's Day celebration with families of close friends.
Lenore Marcus, 90, summed up what she liked about the whole event in one word.
"Everything!" she said.
Her family said Marcus keeps in shape through her weekly swimming sessions and is particularly fond of the backstroke.
"We could go anywhere for Mother's Day, but I prefer to come here," said Marsha Marcus, Lenore's daughter-in-law. "This is the very best place."
Before the event, Marsha was treated to a little Mother's Day pampering too, courtesy of her daughter Alison.
"She's a wonderful daughter," Marsha said.
Asked what would happen if he forgot Mother's Day, Gary Marcus' eyes widened.
"I would feel so guilty," he said. "She would take a stick out and come after me!"
Lenore Marcus giggled wickedly.
"Oh yes, I would!," she said.
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