The Kenaitze Tribe’s oldest member began her second century of life after celebrating her 100th birthday with family and friends at her home at Heritage Place on June 30th. As a tribute to their friend Kenai Mayor Pat Porter and her mother Dodie Davis delivered 100 roses on behalf of the City of Kenai. “I had the pleasure of meeting Fiocla when she was in her sixties and I was hired to be the director at the Senior Center and she has been a part of my life for many years,” said Porter. “We went to the same school together not the same class but same school and we’ve friends ever since,” added Dodie Davis. “I didn’t think that I was that old, but I don’t really have any secrets other than living a happy, clean life and loving the family,” said Fiocla when receiving the flowers. Born Fiocla Sacaloff in the Central Kenai Peninsula she went to boarding school in Eklutna when she was 9-years-old and returned to Kenai when she was 17 and met her husband Phillip Wilson and has lived here ever since. Phillip passed away 45 years ago and Fiocla never remarried. Her daughter Kathy Rodgers said she felt wonderful that her mom’s turning one hundred, “I’m just amazed and so happy! She has been an incredibly loving mother and successful woman. My mom taught me everything I know. She taught me how to cook, she taught me how to sew and was truly a wonderful mom and taught us kids everything,” said Rodgers whose daughter Kim Rodgers-Whipple was also on hand for the presentation of the roses, “It’s amazing to have my grandma be one hundred. My grandma watched me when I was little and my mom went to work. She cooked me my breakfast and walked me to the bus stop and was always there for me. She sang to me and unconditionally loved me, you never get too old to need a grandma, just her presence makes things go better she’s an amazing woman,” said Kim.
