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By Eileen Argyris Marion Blight of Castleton is one of those inspiring people, who, when life hands them a lemon, makes lemonade. Mrs. Blight celebrated her 90th birthday on Feb. 3. Hers has been a life of hard work and sacrifice, but she has a smile and a story for everyone. She was born Marion Bennett, in a tiny (now nonâ€"existent) hamlet near Port Hope. She thinks it was called Zion, but is not sure, since she didn‘t grow up there, but in the town of Port Hope. ELDEST OF 13 CHILDREN She was eldest child of Ed Bennett and his wife, Sarah Sheppard, and she had 10 sisters and two brothers, all of whom are now deceased. "I had to get out and work when I was 15," she recalls, but, fortunately, work was something that agreed with her. Hard work has been her companion for 90 years ‘She worked in the home and office of a local doctor and his wife, whom she classifies as "society peoâ€" ple." By day, she worked in the doctor‘s office and in the evenings, she worked in the home, often helping to set up entertainments for the couple‘s "society" friends. In spite of being parted from her family, especially the father she adored, she says, "I enjoyed every bit of it. Lloved working. I love housework." MARRIED AT 17 for the Canadian Pacific At the tender age of 17, Railroad and at a local she married Jack Blight, . creosote plant. also 17, and the young _ The marriage was not couple moved to Trenton. without its troubles. In During the Depression, her husband worked helpâ€" ing to build the airport that later became CFB Trenton. He also worked for the Canadian Pacific Railroad and at a local creosote plant. The marriage was not Marion Blight, age 90, of Castleton fact, the couple was sepaâ€" rated for 25 years, but reunited when Mr. Blight contracted cancer. Mrs. Blight nursed him through his final illness, which lasted two years. He died in 1980. The Blights had seven children, one of whom A DOLLAR A DAY During the time that she and her husband were separated, and she had the children with her, she did various things to keep the wolf away from the door. Housekeeping, practical nursing and care of the elderly were some of her jobs. She stays busy, in spite of her age and a few health problems of her own. She still loves houseâ€" work and takes pride in being able to do that. She also ran a small nursing home in Brighton for a time,‘and remembers working for a tourist resort in Trenton, washing dishes for one dollar a day. died as a baby And anothâ€" er child, Frances, who died in the early 1940s at the age of five. "I‘ve had a very busy life," she acknowledges. She says, "I baked what folks around here like â€" pies, cakes, tarts â€" I didâ€" n‘t do the fancy stuff. Soon after the death of her husband in 1980, Mrs. Blight moved to her present home in Castleton where, up to a year ago, she continued to work for a living. RAN BAKERY A IN HER 808 Most recently she was a childâ€"care provider but, prior to that, she operated a bakery from her home for "two or three years." "Quite a few‘ from around Castleton came in here." Until recently, she raised a large garden of flowers and vegetables. "I love garâ€" dening; I love flowers," she notes. "I don‘t think it‘s for the best," she advises. PEOPLE WERENT ‘SCARED TO SPEAK! She sees "a horrible difâ€" ference in the times" from when she was young. In those days, she says, "people weren‘t scared to speak to you." _And automation, she believes, has made modâ€" ern people "too lazy. _ Mrs. Blight makes her home with her daughter, Margaret. Her other sons and daughters include: John and his wife Kathleen, and Albert and She has 19 grandchilâ€" dren, 22 greatâ€"grandchilâ€" dren and four greatâ€" grandchildren. She is a devoted member of Colborne Pentecostal Church who says, "I wouldn‘t trade my church for anything:" And, in spite of the hardâ€" ships she has known, she insists, "I thank God I worked hard. I knew what work was, and I wasn‘t afraid to tackle anything." his (wife Elsie, all of Colborne; Hugh and his wife Donna of Oshawa, and Jean (Mrs. Wilfred Lambert) of Cobourg.