A Washington resident was chosen from over 5,000 people that senior living service Wesleylife serves in Iowa to receive an award as part of Halcyon House’s Wesleylife Week.

A closing ceremony for the week of celebrations was held outside Halcyon House Friday where several awards were given to staff for their outstanding work. The big finale was the presentation of the Transforming Aging award to 101-year-old Betty Osincup. The award is presented to someone who changes how we define “old” and inspires us to embrace aging as a time for continued growth and meaning. Osincup showed her sense of humor as she accepted the award, “I have no idea really what this is all about because I am just me. I just don’t know what to say to tell the truth, and that’s unusual.”

Osincup shared the three things that have served as a guiding light in her senior years are to be kind, to always tell the truth, and the third, which she believes is the most important, is to let go, and let God take care of everything. Family from Iowa and across the country also surprised Osincup in person to celebrate her recognition. Kevin Randall, Robin Earnest, Dave Liles, and Mary Jo Koehler were all honored for working over 10 years for Halcyon House, and staff members Dixie Harrison, Ethel Sieren, Alex Meyer, Alex Perez, Melinda Grove, Liles, Penny Stout, Laurie Pemberton, Mary Ann Greiner, Becky Carter, Megan Giardino, and Fran Victor all received special awards.