Meet Kill Devil Hills resident, Marie Louise “Lily” Jezo, who celebrated her milestone birthday on February 6. Lily, who was born on February 6, 1925, hails from Fanche- Comté, France. As a young woman, she spent some time in Switzerland while pursuing her education. She once dreamed of following in her mother’s footsteps as a midwife, but fate had other plans. After she met Maurice, the man who would become her husband for approximately the next 60 years, she chose a different path. The two married in their early 20s and had three children: Pierre, Martine and Sylvie. Shortly after World War II, Maurice accepted a position with the U.S. Department of Defense, so he and Lily relocated their young family to New Jersey. Being the positive, bright person she is, Lily told us, “If you are happy, you can live all over.”
And happy she was. Lily dedicated herself to her family and stayed home to raise her children, finding purpose, a Blue Zones™ Power 9© trait, in motherhood. She also stayed connected to her roots by supporting the French Academy.
Today, Lily lives with her grandson, Robert, and her nephew, Jeffrey. Theirs is a tight-knit household where they look after one another, like those in the Blue Zones who keep their family close and often live together, living the Power 9 principle: Loved Ones First. She and Robert maintain a daily ritual of walking the trails of Nags Head Woods Preserve, which keeps her active and perhaps reminds her of her life in Switzerland, where walking was a way of life. Daily natural movement is a part of centenarians’ life in the Blue Zones, another Power 9 trait.
Lily’s easygoing nature and cheerful disposition shine through in everything she does. During her birthday celebration, we asked Lily to tell us the secret to reaching 100. With a smile, she simply replied, “Do not worry about it,” meaning do not worry about things. She remains remarkably independent, crediting her longevity not only to her carefree attitude, similar to those in the Blue Zones that live out the Power 9 principle: Downshift, but also to those daily walks with her grandson.
“I don’t think about what happened in the past,” Lily said. She embraces each new day without dwelling on yesterday, finding joy in family, conversation and, of course, honey-roasted peanuts and chocolate. Nuts are often a favored snack in the Blue Zones, too.
As she prepared to set out on her birthday walk, Lily effortlessly stood from her chair, grabbed her cane and stepped outside, posing for photos with the grace of someone far younger. Lily is truly an inspiration when it comes to living life to the fullest, longest.
