Marian Dehart

CRANBERRY TWP — At an age when most people are comfortably enjoying retirement, Marian Dehart started a new job working at Club Demonstration Services at Costco in Cranberry Township. She was 76-years-old at the time.

Fast-forward almost 14 years and Dehart recently celebrated her 90th birthday, still an active member of the services team.

Her coworkers celebrated her milestone birthday with a surprise party on April 27. Dehart's birthday is April 28.

At work, Dehart demonstrates, promotes and sells various products at one of the many carts throughout Costco, said Maria Carson, Dehart's manager.

Dehart began working for CDS in 2003, a year after her husband, Stanley, died.

Carson, who has known her for eight years, said Dehart is extremely reliable, dedicated and driven.

Even when she'd anticipate call-offs during winter snow storms, Carson said she could rely on Dehart.

“It's amazing,” Carson said. “Anytime I would need someone last minute, I could call her.”

The job is an active one, Carson said. It involves being outgoing and willing to talk to people, as well as being knowledgeable about the product that is displayed that day.

Dehart said she enjoys talking to people the most.

“I love it,” she said. “I like the people. I like to talk to people because they're all friendly.”

Her children also threw her a surprise party to celebrate her birthday. Dehart said her youngest son told her they were going to eat dinner and play games at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. When they got down there, she was surprised by her other children and grandchildren.

Dehart said she's had a good life over the last 90 years. Growing up in Mars, Dehart was the third of 10 children. She remembers butchering chickens for dinner and learning from her mother how to cook and how to wash and iron clothes.

She was only 15 years old when she eloped to marry Stanley Dehart on Aug. 28, 1942. Dehart said she lied and told the officiant who married her that she was 21.

Dehart had her first child, Shirley, at her parent's house while her husband was in Germany fighting in World War II. After that, she had five more children — Joyce, Dianna, Maribel, Stanley and Mark — and now has more grandchildren and great-grandchildren than she can count.

“They were good kids,” she said. “They didn't give me no trouble. They're all married now and have families of their own.”

Some of her fondest memories are traveling and camping with her husband and children in their “travel trailer.” They spend many summers at Cooper's Lake Campground. The Deharts worked during the Society for Creative Anachronism's annual Pennsic War renaissance festival for many years, she said, and in 1992 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by getting remarried during the festival.

Dehart said she took care of her husband, who had been sick with cancer, for about 10 years before he died in 2002. That's what spurred her to apply for the job at Costco, and it's one she hopes to continue for a long time.

“I told my boss I'm sticking with it as long as I can do it,” she said. “I make friends with a lot of people. And the little kids are so cute.”