When she was younger, Hildegard Landowski was a flapper and went dancing every chance she had. She also was an avid swimmer, having learned the sport as a child.

She credits that combination for getting her to the centenarian mark, which she reached Dec. 14 in Bellevue.

Born in London in 1908, she and her mother, Emma, and an older sister, Margaret, immigrated to the United States three years after the death of her father. They settled in Milwaukee.

With mom working long hours to support the family, Hildegard spent after-school time at the library to read books – and keep warm. Nearby was the natatorium, an indoor swimming pool, where she became an avid swimmer.

As soon as she was old enough, Hildegard got a job as a fur finisher and later worked in sales at the top clothing store in Milwaukee.

As a flapper, she went dancing every chance she got, an activity she continues today – but from her wheelchair.

In addition to swimming at the natatorium, she found love, too, meeting her future husband, Cy. During their courtship, she took up golf and they would spend a few afternoons a week together at the local golf course.

Hildegard and Cy followed their daughter and grandchildren when they moved to California. Continuing the swimming tradition, she joined her grandchildren, Laura, Linda and Janet doing laps in a pool.

All that activity continued through her life. She continued baking pies, making her signature red cabbage dish for family dinners and baking up to 700 cookies for every Christmas until the age of 97.

Supporting it all was her love of swimming and dancing, which she credits helping her make it to the centenarian mark.

She and Cy moved back to Milwaukee when her daughter moved to Bellevue. After Cy died in 1980, the year of their 50th wedding anniversary, she moved to Bellevue.

She only moved into assisted living when her health began to fail.