Courtesy photo Mary Ann Brousseau, an Alpena native, was awarded an excellence award for independent living as blind person.

ALPENA — Not often seen for a centenarian, 104-year-old Mary Ann Brousseau still lives independently in her own house–she cooks her own food, makes calls, and attends church on Sundays–all while blind.

Brousseau said she’s been blind since she was around 90 years old, when macular degeneration and glaucoma took over her sight. She can still see out of her peripheries.

Brousseau recently won an excellence award from the Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) for independent living.

She was nominated by Leanne Ford, a certified vision rehabilitation therapist with the BSBP. Ford sent a statement to Brousseau’s friend Vanessa Mills about why she nominated Brousseau which Mills read aloud.

“Mary Ann first came to me in 2016 and then again in 2022,” Ford wrote. “In 2022, she had become the caregiver for her ailing sister. Mary Ann was used to her sister caring for her. Many tasks that her sister used to handle now became Mary Ann’s responsibility. She asked for assistance with accessing recipes, peeling, cutting, and using her oven, along with other tasks around the house. Mary Ann was able to continue doing laundry in her basement with the assistance of bump dots on her washer and dryer. She was able to continue cooking from scratch with some training on measuring using contrast, cutting gloves, and relying on her skills she had acquired through experience at the age of 101.”

State Sen. Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton) sent a letter to congratulate Brousseau on the award as well.

Brousseau has many helpful tools around her house that help her stay independent. Her measuring cups for cooking are a black and white contrast, which helps her read the size of the cup.

She has a white corded phone with large black numbers that she can use to dial friends and family. For people she calls frequently, she only has to hit one number because their numbers are stored on a specific digit.

“I have to have somebody start the dang washing machine,” Brousseau said. “I cannot–that’s the one thing I can’t conquer. Now I can start my dishwasher most of the time. Every once in a while I goof it up and have her come over,” she said about Mills.

Mills said that although there are bumps on the washer, Brousseau has some numbness in her fingers now and can’t feel them.

As for her mobility, all Brousseau currently uses is a cane.

Brousseau has lived in the Alpena area her whole life and grew up on a farm in Maple Ridge. Mills said Brousseau is very strong, and can lift things that she can’t lift.

“I was raised on a farm and we had potatoes, and you wrestled those potatoes,” Brousseau said.

Her secret to living such a long life is clean living and hard work.

“But my younger sister…just said it’s our genes,” Brousseau said.

Brousseau is a big Tigers fan and watches the games on her television. She also likes gardening, listening to audiobooks, and still likes to keep up her appearance by getting her hair done regularly.

Brousseau has many friends that she spends time with that help her get around town. She is planning to see a movie at Sanctuary Cinema with her friends soon, and she recently celebrated her 104th birthday party with a group of friends.

Brousseau said she hopes that anyone that needs resources as a blind person reaches out to the BSBP.