Occupation: I have been a homemaker for most of my life. For many years, I helped my husband run a chicken farm on Little Brook Lane and I can tell you that was a lot more work than raising five kids.

While the children were growing up, it seemed like I never left home. I did all the cooking, painting, wallpapering, and housework. I also kept a garden and canned vegetables, and I sewed many of my own clothes. For a long time, we only had one car so I didn’t drive.

When I finally got a job in 1986 outside the home, my eyes were opened to the outside world. I worked for Grolier’s in Danbury in the shipping department for ten years. That was hard work, too, because we were on our feet all the time. But it was the best ten years of my life.

I am 85 now, since my birthday is this week on September 10. Now that I have retired, I am trying to stay in Newtown on a fixed income of about $7,000 a year. It’s hard because so much has to go into taxes, medical costs, and house insurance, but I manage –– and I love to cook.

I’ve just given up my driver’s license after going down to the DMV to get my official ID card and photo. That seemed to be more complicated than it should have been. I had to show them all sorts of papers to verify my identity before they would take back my license.

How Long In Newtown: I was born in Bridgeport. My husband, Tony Perillo, and I moved here in 1956 when we bought the Wiser property at 5 Little Brook Lane. It had five acres, a house, and barns, and we were able to keep a chicken farm there for 12 years. Then we sold the business, but we kept some acreage for ourselves and built a new house. We also kept half a dozen chickens, some sheep, and a beef cow.

Changes You Have Seen Over 50 Years: When you are not driving and living at home raising a family of five, your life is entirely different. Today, a woman with one child can drive and she is able to get out of the home. Yet some complain they have no time and are too tied down. I don’t understand it.

I remember Newtown when it was much quieter, and when there was a grocery store up near the flagpole. That was nice.

When 9/11 happened, I was watching TV and I asked my son, Tony, “Is this a movie?” and he said, “No, Ma, it’s real.” I’ll never forget that.

Family: We raised Marie, 68, Tony, 62, Felix (“Flip”), 60, Arlene (Shanley), 58, who lives next door to me, and Vanessa, 52, who lives in Oregon.

We used to have all sorts of animals and dogs and cats, but not any more.

Hobbies: I still like to garden and I love my perennials like hostas and baby’s breath. I have an indoors Christmas cactus that blooms from Thanksgiving to the holidays that I’ve had for 25 years. Also, I sewed and hung all my lace curtains –– complete with pleats. I’m pretty active outside in the summer, but in the winter I like to read. That’s my rest time when I stay inside.

Favorite TV, Movie, Book: I read The Newtown Bee front to back. My favorite book is Gone With The Wind, and I have always been in love with Clark Gable.

On TV, I like the food and decorating shows. The rest is just junk.

Organizations: I belong to St Rose of Lima Parish and all the children went to St Rose School.

Most Vivid Memory About Newtown: The big flag that they carried up and down Main Street on the Labor Day Parade 2001.

We stood in front of the police station and took pictures of it that I sent to the children.

Favorite Vacation Spot: I went to Las Vegas to visit my oldest daughter, but I prefer the country. I like to visit my older son in Vermont.

Personal Philosophy: Discipline today is terrible. Some people just don’t know how to control their kids. When ours were little, we didn’t talk much about discipline but we were firm and we didn’t spare the rod. Still, they all turned out very well, and they all educated themselves.

I think the secret to being happy is hard work because then you have no time to think about yourself.

SNAP SHOT: Helen Perillo