handout

For The Washington Post

Virginia Oliver

Two women from the shoulders up are back to back. The woman on the left wears a gray shirt and frowns. The background behind her is dark blue, and there are lines above her depicting stressful thoughts. The woman on the right wears a purple shirt and is smiling. The background behind her is yellow and there are sparkles around her head.

The Washington Post

inspired-life-positive-news

Respond to prefers-color-scheme dark in app web views

Follow section front redirects in Spectrum

Enable NLP source in PCS for load testing

Switch off the News Alerts Survey Widget when we have enough responses

Poll to determine if new LUF updates are available

Allows the winning A/B test variant to be turned on without Spectrum deployment

Show infinite scrolling sections in Assembler MultiView

Show option for NLP article summaries in Action Bar

A general feature flag for Recipe Features that aren't yet released

Feature flag for media team features that aren't yet released

Use new Orca video player for preroll plugin in Spectrum

Show the snow tracker (instead of the heat tracker) on Spectrum

Strangers help Sesame Street puppeteer after heirloom necklace was stolen

Teen grabs wheel when driver passes out and school bus veers into traffic

Cat climbed into Amazon return box, found alive 630 miles away

The new cure-all for vacation excess: the IV drip 

What’s the best bus to New York? We tested 5 for comfort and value.

Adaptive equipment is making national parks more inclusive

Confident of victory over Ukraine, Russia exhibits Western war trophies

Two women are seeking Mexico’s presidency. But the race is about a man.

Hamas in Cairo for hostage talks as Israel briefs aid agencies on Rafah

The Post endorses April McClain Delaney and Tom Royals for Maryland’s 6th District

On Press Freedom Day, little to celebrate for Hong Kong’s journalists

Young Georgians want to be part of Europe. Their government is in the way.

Ask Amy: My boyfriend just confessed he’s almost $20,000 in debt

Miss Manners: Is it inappropriate to reach out to old girlfriends?

Carolyn Hax: Longtime friend won’t forgive being last-minute canceled for a guy

Trump Media auditor charged by SEC with ‘massive fraud’

Google’s empire is massive. A judge will soon rule if it’s a monopoly.

Five tech products we actually like

In photos: At least 39 dead as historic flooding hits southern Brazil

Sea level rise brings new era of dangerous flooding

Michael Cohen keeps broadcasting despite being a witness

The New York Times, alone in its outrage over access to Biden

The ‘Access Hollywood’ video cemented Trump’s air of invincibility

Stephen A. Smith would like even more of your attention

In a pinch, the Nationals finally find some offense

Is Pastis as good as our food critic thought? He sent spies to find out.

The Capitals, a team in transition, know what they want this offseason

Biden confronts campus protests; Trump hedges on accepting election results

Kristi Noem just won’t stop talking about killing her dog

Noem’s dog-killing isn’t popular, though Trump supporters are divided

Family photo

Life as an only child was lonely for Marguerite “Peg” Koller.

“I had to go outside to find kids to play with,” said Koller, 99, who grew up in Philadelphia, and now lives in Montgomery County, Pa. “I definitely wished I had siblings.”

More than just a brother or sister, she longed for a large family. So when the time came for her to start her own brood, she went with a “more is more” mentality.

Koller and her late husband, William, who came from a compact family of four, had 11 children, 56 grandchildren and, as of Sept. 19, 101 great-grandchildren and counting.

“It’s terrific,” said Koller, who goes by “grandmom.”

She has fond memories of being a young mother. It was chaotic, to be sure, but “I look back, and I don’t think about it being hard,” she said, except perhaps getting everyone dressed and ready for church on time. But the small struggles were a fine exchange for having a full house.

“I just loved having them, and having so many people around me,” she said, adding that her 11 children were born over a span of 19 years.

At one point before she got married, however, she nearly became a nun. As a teen, she applied to join the convent and was accepted.

Family photo 

Despite her hope for a large family, “I just felt I had a vocation,” said Koller, explaining that she is a person of faith and a Catholic.

It was her mother and then-boyfriend (who later became her husband of 66 years), who convinced her to get married instead and, in hindsight, she’s glad they did. Her family, she said, is her greatest source of pride.

In 1942, Koller married William Koller, a World War II veteran who died in 2008. Together, the couple started <a href="https://www.kollerfuneralhome.com/" target=_blank>Koller Funeral Home</a> in Philadelphia, which still exists today and is run by several family members.

Boy with cancer hoped to see monsters. Strangers came in costume.

The couple was not sure at first how many children they wanted, but once they got started, “we just kept going,” Koller said, adding that her life was never lonely again.

The Koller kids, for their part, loved living in a jam-packed household, where there was no shortage of action and entertainment.

“It was such a great experience growing up in our family,” said Chris Kohler, 60, who was the ninth born, and married a man with the same last name, though spelled differently. “Even now that we’re all grown up, we’re still such great friends.”

Having their steady-handed parents as role models, she said, made the siblings close.

“They had such a great relationship,” Kohler said, explaining that they split household duties equally, including cooking and cleaning. “They worked hand in hand in the business and at home.”

“They always had to be together, always holding hands,” she continued. “I was hoping that I would find something like that for myself.”

Go ahead and stare at my prosthetic arm. I know it is awesome.

Not only did Kohler want to emulate her parents’ relationship, she also wanted the energy and fullness of her childhood home.

“We had so many brothers and sisters around to play with and help us. That made an impression on me, and so I always wanted to have a big family,” said Kohler, who went on to have six children and 14 grandchildren so far.

Her siblings, too, all had an above average number of kids. The <a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/USA/united-states/fertility-rate" target=_blank>fertility rate</a> in the United States is 1.78 births per woman, and the majority of the 11 Koller siblings had more than five children each.

The many-sibling mind-set carried over to the next generation. Greg Stokes, 41, Koller’s grandson, is a father of four girls. “Coming from a large family, I always wanted people around,” said Stokes, who has eight brothers and sisters. “I think everybody in my family wanted to have multiple kids because of the energy and the excitement.”

Although he is one of 56 grandchildren, Stokes, who also lives in Montgomery County, easily developed a tight bond with both of his grandparents. He has vivid memories of attending a local swim club with his grandparents and cousins in the summertime, and he often takes his daughters there.

“Everybody always had a really close relationship with grandmom and grandpop, and really with each other,” Stokes said, adding that he and his cousin lived together in college and for several years after. “We would have sleepovers at grandmom and grandpop’s, and every Christmas Eve, there’s a big party.”

Throughout life’s challenges, including his brother’s death at age 12, having countless people to lean on made the pain easier to bear. “It’s definitely been a very unique experience,” Stokes said, adding that the majority of the extended family lives in Pennsylvania.

He plays college football in North Dakota. And he is 49 years old.

Part of what has kept them close, he continued, is his grandmother’s unwavering dedication to each member of the family. “She is there for every high school and college graduation,” Stokes said. “She always makes an effort to be present.”

In fact, six years ago, when two family weddings were scheduled on the same day (hazard of a big clan), she made it to both, despite the celebrations being more than an hour’s drive apart. She had a similar experience with two of her grandchildren’s graduation ceremonies.

“For all our kids’ graduations and baptisms and birthday parties, she always wanted to be there,” Kohler said of her mother. “Her family is her life.” Koller loves attending milestone events, and thinks they are important markers of life.

“I don’t miss parties,” said Koller, explaining that her faith, a balanced diet and regular exercise — she lifts weights twice daily — is the secret to her long life. Koller passed down the same values in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

When Chrissy Balster’s son was born — bringing the great-grandchildren count to 100 — she and her husband brought their newborn baby directly from the hospital to visit their grandmom.

“No matter the size of the family, how big it grows, how far away we are, those lessons that my grandparents started 75 years ago are very much rooted in all of us,” said Balster, 34, whose son was born on Aug. 4, and was named “Koller William” after his great-grandfather.

Introducing the 100th great-grandchild to his great-grandmother, Balster said, was a moment of pure joy for all of them, but especially her. “It was so exciting to bring together these two amazing people,” she said. “We are just so lucky to be a part of her legacy.”

Holding her newborn great-grandson in her arms for the first time, “I thought about my husband,” Koller said. “He would be so thrilled.” Although it’s become increasingly difficult to get the growing family together, the Kollers still have an annual Christmas Eve party, as well as regular reunions. They also stay connected through social media.

Just as Koller has never missed a major milestone, her family, which now consists of close to 250 people including spouses, also try to be present at all her big celebrations.

The whole family, including the newest great-grandson, who was born last week and is also named after his great-grandfather, William, is coming together to mark their matriarch’s 100th birthday on Nov. 28 at a local country club.

She said she is excited to work her way around the room and chat with her many, many family members. And she has been clear with her family about something else: “I’m going to get up and dance,” she said.

Do you have a story for Inspired Life? Here is how you can submit.

McGill University, BA

Columbia University, MS in journalism 

Sydney Page is a staff reporter who writes for The Washington Post’s Inspired Life section, a collection of stories about humanity. She has been a contributor to The Post since 2018.

Sydney Page

washpost

Marguerite Koller is 99 and has 101 grandchildren

the-washington-post

She was an only child. Now she has 101 great-grandkids.

name

iptc-media/religion_and_belief/religious_belief/Christianity

iptc-media/society/family

iptc-media/religion_and_belief/religious_belief

iptc-media/society

iptc-media/society/family/parent_and_child

iptc-media/religion_and_belief

client-blocklists/Client List: Becton Dickinson KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/CLIENT LIST: Nomura KWs 2021 - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Tito's KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Johnson & Johnson KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Bed Bath & Beyond KWs - INCLUDE ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Exxon Mobil  - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: USAA KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: T. Rowe Price KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Google PG KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/T. Rowe Price KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Microsoft KWs 2 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/P+ The Offer KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/HBO KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Ford/Lincoln KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Discover Card KWs – INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Kyndryl KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Capital One (One Tech) KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Navy Federal Credit Union NFCU KWs 2 - EXCLUDES ALL - 12.23.20

client-blocklists/Client List: AT&T KWs 2021 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Louis Vuitton KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Diageo - Johnnie Walker KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/ Client List: Mercedes EQS KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/United Airlines KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/ExxonMobil 03312021 KWs - INCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/FlexForm KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Apple Marcom KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Boeing KWs 2021- INCLUDE ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Morgan Stanley KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Organon KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Verizon KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Facebook KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Optum KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Hulu KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/CLIENT LIST: GOLDMAN SACHS SEC KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/WaPo: Combined Disaster Keyword List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/P+ Halo KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Mastercard KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Beto for Texas KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: AT&T KWs 2022 - INCLUDES ANY - NEW

client-blocklists/Synchrony Financial KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Amazon KWs - EXCLUDE ALL 

client-blocklists/LV Queen 2022 Neg KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/WaPo: Natural Disaster Keyword List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Amazon KWs 2022 - EXCLUDE ALL 

client-blocklists/Client List: Ukraine-Russia (Apple News) KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Hermes KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: AstraZeneca KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Showtime KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: ExxonMobil KWs - INCLUDES ANY Q4 2022

client-blocklists/Client List: Apple TV+ KW – INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Ronald McDonald House KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client Neg KW List: Omega KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/P+ Halo KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

advertising/World National Local Content

client-blocklists/PMI KWs 2021 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Marcus Goldman Sachs Neg KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/GEICO KWs - INCLUDES ANY_4.26.21

client-blocklists/Client List: Morgan Stanley KWs - INCLUDES ANY Q4 2022

client-blocklists/Client List: Navy Federal Credit Union NFCU KWs Q4 2022 - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Eli Lily KWs - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/B2_Culture and Tradition_legacyaux_kfx

client-blocklists/Client List: Citibank KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Citibank KWs 2021 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Purina KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/SAP KW List - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/Citrix Mindfulness

advertising/B2_Family Matter 2.12.15_legacyaux_lf3

advertising/B2_Family & Parenting_legacyaux_v02

client-blocklists/Client List: Fidelity Investments KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Turbo Tax KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/CME KW List 2022 - EXCLUDES ALL 

advertising/B2_Health and Beauty_legacyaux_3fv

client-blocklists/Bank of America KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

advertising/Client Keywords: On Running

client-blocklists/BP KWs - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/B2_Family_legacyaux_icy

client-blocklists/National Instruments KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Intel KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: AT&T Digital Divide  - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Samsung 2021 KWs - INCLUDE ANY

client-blocklists/Google PG Competitor KWs - EXCLUDES ALL 

advertising/B2_Positive News_legacyaux_hlt

advertising/B2_Society_legacyaux_0cz

client-blocklists/WaPo: Combined Disaster Keyword List - INCLUDES ANY Q4 2022

advertising/Hitachi continuum

client-blocklists/Client List: GEICO KWs

client-blocklists/Client List: KPMG KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Navy Federal Credit Union NFCU KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Novo Nordisk KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Siemens KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Cisco KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: AT&T ALT KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Mercedes KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/FX Excludes All Disney

prism://prism.query/site,/lifestyle/inspired-life?limit=20

Inspired Life

prism://prism.query/site-articles-only,/lifestyle&limit=20

Lifestyle

Washington Post Lifestyle gives you the latest fashion and beauty trends, home d&eacute;cor pointers, food and recipe ideas and reviews, relationship advice, travel ideas, wellness tips and much more.