100-year-old Nanaimo woman proves you’re never too old to take on new interests

A Nanaimo woman who turned 100 years old Tuesday proves you’re never too old to pick up new interests.

After the passing of her husband, Elsie Prill started collecting piggy banks.

“My husband was gone and somebody gave me a piggy bank,” Prill told CHEK News.

That’s when she began collecting piggy banks, and more people started gifting them to her.

“I used to go in and buy piggy banks at the goodwill. I didn’t pay much for any of them, but they were cute,” said Prill.

Her collection quickly grew.

“A couple of years ago, my son-in-law said I had eight hundred,” recalled Prill.

The “mini-banks” come in many shapes and sizes and Prill says she now has more than 1,500 of them.

“They’re all over the place. All in front of the TV. I just dust them.”

According to Prill, she’s lived quite a life.

Born in England with 12 siblings, she served in the Second World War before coming to Canada as a war bride. She says she didn’t know her husband well before they married, but it worked out well for the pair.

“And it lasted 68 years, and he was the best guy in Canada. I’ve never met anybody like him,” said Prill.

They had two daughters and moved around the country, as Prill’s husband served in the airforce before moving to the Comox Valley. Eventually, they moved to Nanaimo in 1989.

Prill’s daughter believes her mother has reached 100 years of age and can still live independently because of how she approaches life.

“Her feistiness. She tackles everything right on,” said Michelle Wittkopf.

Prill believes her longevity is related to her physical activity and clean living.

“I never drank. I never smoked,” she exclaimed. “That’s right.”

And tackling new things, like collecting piggy banks.

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