OMG, Gertrude Crowley, 97, the spunky redhead who in her long life has been a nun, U.S. Marine and beloved elementary school teacher, is now on Facebook and a blogger (http://iseenitall.wordpress.com). We originally profiled Gertrude in LifeLines on June 2, 2009.
Initially she called her blog a “glob” (lol) until Teddy Jay, the leasing coordinator at Oak Park Arms — and her personal in-house techie and friend — clued her in.
Two years ago, Gertrude started actively networking with 10 family members on Facebook (FB). Then her grandson Max said she should start a blog, and when she did, the Chicago Tribune ran a story in early summer about her new social networking adventures. Digitally speaking, her FB following has taken off and is still growing — family, friends, former students, and social networkers from all around the country who think that friending a 97-year-old blogger who is also on FB is cool.
“When I tell her she has a comment on something, or a message on Facebook, I have to remind her often that we might not know who these people are because we have just added them as friends on Facebook, ever since she became such a little online celebrity,” Jay says.
Gertrude is now living with cancer and was told two years ago she had four months to live. Even so, she is still clicking away on the computer in the library at The Arms, says Jay, although her vision has severely declined. That is where he comes in handy — with an extra pair of eyes.
“Her ability to connect with people she taught, her family, and share her ideas in this way has opened up an entire new world for Gertrude and has made a huge difference in her well being,” Jay says.