Nanny turns 100!!!

On Saturday I photographed the most important and touching birthday I will ever be a part of…Nanny turned 100! She is such an amazing woman and I’m so grateful to know her. Born in Germany in 1909, she was a premature baby weighing about a pound and a half. The midwife recommended that her father take her out back and drown her. He refused and instead, put her in a shoe box filled with cotton and placed her in the warming oven of the coal stove for an incubator and kept the lid open for circulation of the air. She fought through being a premie, horrible burns during a cooking accident and breast cancer. She is a true fighter and survivor.

The day started off for Nanny with a trip to the salon to get her hair done for the party. Everyone did a great job decorating the hall. There was a slideshow of photos of Nanny throughout the years set to German music that brought her to tears. Her friends back in Germany supplied 100 red roses that were simply beautiful. The room was filled with friends and family from all over…oh yeah…and a cameraman from AZ 3 TV. I thought it would be a great story to share with people. Nanny was a little shocked when they arrived but she did a wonderful job. Her secret to living a long happy life…family. She’s a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother so she has plenty of that!

Her cake was made by her Granddaughter Cheri and her 2 daughters.




Nanny in tears when she realized what song was playing.


Being interviewed by Channel 3.

Nanny with one of her Great Great Grandsons.

Violet "Nanny" Hamman

Nanny with all of her Grandchildren.