My 93-Year-Old Great Aunt Lives Alone in Las Vegas, and She Loves It

Since I was a child, my Great Aunt Beverly and Uncle Herbert were the highlights of family gatherings. She had bright red hair, an infectious laugh, and a knack for hilarious one-liners in her high-pitched Brooklyn accent. Herb was her perfect complement, sharing her humor and warmth.

All my grandparents had died by the time I was 12, so having a link to their generation through my paternal grandmother’s sister has always meant a lot to me.

At 93 now, Aunt Beverly is independent, witty, and still very much herself. She may live alone, but she has a full life. While younger relatives like me can’t help but worry, she insists she doesn’t need — or want — my concern.

She’s been living on her own in Las Vegas for 20 years

When Beverly’s husband, Herbert, was diagnosed with cancer, she promised him that if he recovered, they’d move from New York to Las Vegas. They did in 1990.

“I gave him 16 years here, which was pretty good,” she told me when I chatted with her recently.

After Herbert died in 2006, Beverly stayed put because she had made great friends in Vegas. She didn’t want to leave them or change her life.

Beverly’s son lives nearby in San Francisco, and her daughter in North Carolina has been asking her to move in for years. But Beverly is happy on her own.

“As my lady friends become widows, they’re very happy living alone,” she told me. “If you’re mobile and your issues are manageable, you can do it. I drove until I was 88. My son has my food shopping delivered, he gets my house cleaned, and I get rides to doctor’s appointments.”

When asked if she could move in with a friend, she said with her signature wit: “It was hard enough to live with a man. Imagine living with a girl? No, it’s enough.”

Her routines and activities keep her sharp, connected, and healthy

Although she’s a “superager,” she’s also capable — and she reminds me that older adults who can live on their own deserve the same respect for autonomy we grant anyone else.

Longevity is a popular wellness topic, but Beverly’s solo life proves the basics still work: stay mentally, physically, and socially engaged.

“I’m not bored,” she told me. “My mind is very active.”

Beverly devours one mystery novel after another. She reads for at least two hours every day.

Her other great love is football. No one dares call her on Sundays or Monday nights. Following her favorite teams — the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers — keeps her mind sharp and her memory strong.

Physically, Beverly stretches every morning and pedals a small machine that turns her chair into an exercise bike. She doesn’t have a big appetite, but if nighttime hunger hits, she loves a cookie or salty snack.

Socially, she stays busy. Friends in her community often walk over to visit, and one has come every year for her birthday — a 30-year tradition.

She doesn’t drink alcohol anymore, but she’s found a favorite mocktail: tonic water with ice and lime, sipped through a straw. “It makes me feel fancy,” she said, smiling. “Just as good as my old vodka tonic and lime.”

I still worry, but I know she’s OK on her own

Beverly stays in close touch with her kids and extended family, who visit regularly and keep her updated on everyone’s lives. This winter, she’ll travel to North Carolina to stay with her daughter and is proud to attend her granddaughter’s wedding in February.

I still worry for her, but she insists it’s unnecessary. She’s alone but not lonely, supported but self-sufficient.

Her family and friends ensure she’s cared for — which allows her to keep living the way she loves: reading mysteries, sipping fancy mocktails, and enjoying her sacred football Sundays in peace.