There was cake. There was singing. There were warm wishes to the birthday girl.

This birthday was the big one.

Joan McCune of Kingston celebrated her 100th birthday Thursday at the Kingston Community Center. The Chuckwagon lunch crowd was larger than ever and ready to help McCune celebrate the century mark.

“She is absolutely a delight. We should all be so fortunate,” said Julie Pounds, who oversees the Chuckwagon meal program for seniors.

McCune’s granddaughter Susan Meyers escorted her to the party. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched McCune blow out the candles on her cake.

“She’s pretty special,” Meyers said.

McCune was born Jan. 24, 1902 in Tyler, Texas and spent much of her life in California. She worked for a hospital in Riverside, Calif. and raised two daughters. She has six grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

She moved to Meyers’ Jefferson Beach home about six years ago.

“She says we’re stuck with her; we don’t feel that way,” Meyers said.

McCune doesn’t act a day over 30 and keeps young by riding her stationary bike everyday and having a small York Peppermint Patty after dinner.

She is an avid baseball fan and since moving to the area has become a Mariners fan. But as to her real philosophy about a life that’s been longer than most people have, she had this to offer.

“I never live in the past,” McCune said.

“Let the dead past bury its dead,” she said.

As for the big day, McCune is modest despite all of the hoopla.

“I don’t feel any different,” she said.