Most people go to a home improvement store for paint or lumber. Gretchen Sollo goes to stay on her feet. For about five years, the Kankakee, Illinois, woman has walked laps through the aisles of the Lowe’s store in nearby Bradley most mornings. When she turned 100, the store’s employees decided she deserved more than a wave hello.
A blue carpet in the aisles
Sollo turned 100 on Sunday, November 1. Two days earlier, on Friday, October 30, the Bradley Lowe’s team threw her a surprise party right in the store, according to People and the Kankakee Daily Journal. About 50 people came, People reported, including family members, friends and store associates. Some workers came in on their day off.
Sollo walked down a blue carpet, the color of the Lowe’s brand, under a balloon arch. There was cake, and she received a custom Lowe’s vest of her own, the Daily Journal reported. Store manager Joe Jackson, who organized the celebration, joined her for her daily lap.
Sollo told the Daily Journal she still could hardly believe it, adding that every time she looked around, there was somebody else she knew.
About 1,500 miles, one lap at a time
Sollo’s walks began as a way to keep moving after a stroke. People reported that she had the stroke at age 92, in November 2018, and later moved her walking indoors. She now logs three to four miles a day, and by one estimate has covered about 1,500 miles inside the store.
Jackson met her last year, and the two became friends, according to the Daily Journal. He gave her an honorary title: “store mom.”
“I was inspired by her and her walking.” (Joe Jackson, Lowe’s store manager)
Jackson told the paper that he now makes a point of having a conversation with her every time she comes in. Store associate Vicki Jernagin said Sollo’s visits put smiles on employees’ faces and called her an inspiration for what she does every day. Jackson told People that Sollo has become part of the store family.
A century of hard work
Sollo’s life story spans the full century. Born in Chebanse, Illinois, she grew up as one of nine children on a rural farm during the Great Depression, in a home without electricity or running water, People reported. She later worked at the David Bradley Manufacturing factory and then became a seamstress known for her draperies.
She was married to her husband, Joseph, for six years before he died of cancer. Together they had three sons. Today she lives in Kankakee with her son Hugh.
As for the secret to a long life, Sollo credits a healthy upbringing and homegrown food, according to People. And for someone being celebrated by a crowd, she was modest about it. “I never wanted a birthday party,” she told the magazine.
Why it matters
Stories like Sollo’s are a reminder that community can show up in ordinary places. A store’s staff noticed a regular customer, learned her story and turned her routine into something to celebrate. Her persistence after a stroke also speaks to the value of steady, everyday effort.
Why it matters for families
Many families have an older relative who wants to stay active, especially when winter weather makes outdoor walks harder. Sollo found a safe, climate-controlled place to keep moving. Any new exercise routine, especially after a stroke or other health event, is something to talk over with a doctor first. Her story also invites a simple question for the whole family: who in our neighborhood could use a little recognition, a conversation or a celebration?
For more stories of everyday people making a difference, meet Eddie, the guide dog who won the 2026 Hero Dog Awards, and the five CNN Heroes finalists for 2026.
Read more: CNN Heroes 2026: Meet the five finalists and how to vote before Nov. 29
Do you know someone whose everyday routine deserves a celebration like this?
Sources: People via AOL, “Mom Surprised with 100th Birthday Party at Lowe’s, Where She’s Logged Over 1,500 Miles of Daily Walks (Exclusive)” (November 5, 2026); Shaw Local Daily Journal, “Bradley Lowe’s throws birthday party for 100-year-old who walks through store daily” (November 5, 2026)
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