The key to living to 100 could be playing pinochle.

At least it might be for three Crown Point women who play pinochle on Tuesdays with fellow seniors at Crown Point’s Bulldog Park.

Liz Louis, Geneva Nemeth and Sylvia Richardson were honored Tuesday by their pinochle club and Mayor Dave Uran for turning 100 or closing in on their 100th birthday in 2019.

Louis turned 100 on April 23. She was born in 1919 on Nicholls Street in Crown Point. The lifelong resident married and raised five children.

Nemeth was born Sept. 4, 1919, on a farm in Merrillville. She became a wife and mother of four.

Richardson was born Sept. 5, 1919, in Gary. Like Nemeth, she married her high school sweetheart and raised four children.

“Just being moderate has helped,” Louis said on her longevity.

Richardson still volunteers at Franciscan Health Crown Point where she has been for 22 years. She said she has never smoked, but does enjoy the occasional highball or wine.

“I guess I have good genes,” she said.

Nemeth, who has been recovering from an injury, was brought to the party by her daughter, Sheryl Hamerslay.

“I wish I knew the secret,” Hamerslay said of her mother’s long life. “I think it is a good life. She’s led a moral and decent life.”

According to the U.S. Census, centenarians make up a very small portion of the total population. And this Crown Point pinochle club has three of them.

In 2010, there were just 53,364 centenarians in the United States, according to the U.S. Census.

Mayor David Uran was a guest at the party for the three centenarians and presented them each with a bouquet of flowers.

“Everyone adores you and loves you and thank you for sharing all these wonderful years with us,” he said.

Afterward, it was time for lunch and pinochle.

“Hopefully, we’ll win a few games,” Louis said.

Rob Earnshaw is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.