Woman, 99, ‘Wanted To Have A Big Family’ And Just Welcomed Her 100th Great-Grandchild

Aug 19, 2022 by apost team

Aug. 4, 2022, was a momentous day for Pennsylvania woman Marguerite “Peggy” Koller, who welcomed her 100th great-grandchild just short of her own milestone 100th birthday.

Marguerite, who grew up an only child, married her husband William Koller shortly after World War II. Although William passed in 2008 after 66 years of marriage, his legacy lives on. The pair had 11 children together, and from them, were gifted 56 grandchildren and now, 100 great-grandchildren.

“I wanted to have a big family. I think it’s difficult being an only child,” Marguerite told ABC7.

The birth of Koller “Kole” William Balster to Marguerite’s grandchild Christine takes Marguerite’s entire family to 168 members.

“We went to grandmom’s, introduced her to Koller, who was named after the family name,” Stokes told Good Morning America.

“She was absolutely ecstatic. Limited words for sure. She was just so happy and felt so blessed and lucky to be holding him,” Stokes said, adding “You could feel the emotion and the gratitude and (she) just felt blessed again that she got to hold yet another great-grandbaby, and this one named after my grandfather.”

Christine and her husband, Patrick, were determined to give their child a meaningful name.

“We wanted to do like a name that was equally significant,” Patrick said. “I’ve always loved the name Cole. And (first son) Chris one day was like, ‘Hey, how about Koller? This could be baby number 100 for great-grandmom.’ We thought about Koller and we went for Koller William ... William Koller was her grandfather’s name. And then ‘William’ is also on my side of the family; I’m a fourth-generation William, middle name. So we're like, it just made sense. It felt good.”

But baby Koller was not initially expected to be baby number 100.

“It was a race to 100,” Christine said. “My cousin Colleen and I were just a day apart (for) our due dates, and she had the 99th great-grandchild, who is absolutely healthy and beautiful. So you know, just grateful, blessed to have another few babies joining this great family.”

About 10 years ago, Marguerite celebrated the birth of her 50th great-grandchild, John. 

“It was the most emotional thing that I think I had ever experienced,” Marguerite had said of being present at the hospital for the birth.

With such a large family that's based mostly in and around Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, how crazy does Thanksgiving get?

“We just come in different heats,” Christine explained with a chuckle, adding they then “spend some time together and then we disperse so that everyone can kind of get together at these critical points throughout the year.”

While baby Koller was named after great-grandpa, what about Marguerite?

“My grandmother’s name is Marguerite, she named my mother Marguerite, who named my oldest sister Marguerite, and then my brother’s second daughter is Marguerite as well,” Christine said.

The original Marguerite will turn 100 in November 2022, and her family is looking forward to spending more time with their mega matriarch. The “secrets” to Marguerite's longevity are said to be twice-daily workouts and the family’s love and support.

“Faith and family really get her going,” Christine said. “She is present no matter what is going on and however old she is. I mean, she never misses a graduation, a baptism, a wedding, a book moment at grade school. Whatever it is, she’s always there.”

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How amazing is great-grandma Marguerite “Peggy” Koller’s family? Were you raised in a large family or have one now? Let us know and pass this on to them and your friends as well.