Dorothy Walsh, Village North and longtime St. Louis resident, celebrated her 104th birthday with a chocolate-iced cake and "Happy Birthday" sung to her in German from fellow resident Fred Leibel.

One would be hard to guess her age. Perhaps it was starting work shampooing and rolling hair at 14 to help support her family that made Walsh a survivor. She married at 16, and had many happy years with her husband.

Asked if she had a secret diet or formula for such a long life, Walsh says she has no idea. "It must be from eating chocolate and caffeine," says her friend. "She's very fond of both. That and coffee cake every morning -- that's her ritual."