Turning 100 is a remarkable achievement, but reaching the milestone alongside your twin makes the occasion even more extraordinary.
Jane Southwick and her twin brother, Bill Abbott, recently celebrated their centennial birthday after a remarkable century filled with adventure, family memories and major historical moments.
The siblings were born in Hawaii on April 8, 1926, in an unexpected twist that left their parents stunned. Their mother, Loreen Abbott, reportedly did not know she was carrying twins.
Jane arrived first, but the surprise was far from over.
“They had no idea Bill was in there,” Southwick recalled in an interview with PEOPLE from her home in Livermore, California.
She explained that medical technology was very different at the time, with ultrasounds unavailable to expectant mothers.
“After I was born, they were like, ‘Wait. There’s another [baby],’” she recalled.
A month after their birth, the twins travelled with their family to New York, where cabin drawers reportedly served as makeshift cribs during the journey.
Over the next 100 years, Jane and Bill experienced some of life’s biggest highs and lows. They witnessed generations come and go, built families of their own and survived serious health challenges.
Yet even after a century, the twins insist they still feel young at heart.
“We’re still kids,” they told PEOPLE, finishing each other’s thoughts.
A family blessed with longevity
Long life appears to be a family tradition for the Abbotts.
Their parents both lived into their 90s, while their older brother Richard died last year shortly before his 103rd birthday.
That family history has given Jane and Bill the opportunity to experience something many people rarely get decades of memories shared across several generations.
Their family gatherings have grown over the years and now include children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Southwick says having parents who lived so long allowed the family to spend plenty of time together and preserve stories from previous generations.
A life filled with love and adventure
Jane’s life took her into education, where she earned a degree in child development and worked at a nursery school.
She also found love while studying at the University of California, Berkeley, in the 1940s. Her mother played a role in introducing her to Ernie, who later became her husband.
The couple eventually raised five children before Ernie died in 1995.
Jane has also faced serious health challenges throughout her long life. After retiring in the 1980s, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery. She has also dealt with pulmonary problems.
Rather than dwelling on those difficulties, however, she sees them as part of the journey of getting older.
“Things happen,” she said.
Bill followed a very different career path. A former high school athlete, he enjoyed swimming and later served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the USS California.
He subsequently spent 30 years flying patrol planes in the Navy Reserve before retiring from his career as an AT&T engineer.
His health remained relatively stable for most of his life until he suffered a heart attack around a decade ago. He received stents and has also experienced kidney problems.
So, what is their secret?
The centenarian twins don’t claim to have discovered a magical formula for living to 100.
Instead, they point to simple habits and circumstances that have supported them throughout their lives.
They believe staying active, maintaining close family relationships and receiving proper medical care have all contributed to their longevity.
Their upbringing may have helped too. Their parents reportedly did not smoke or drink, although Jane later admitted that she smoked for a period of her life.
Bill, on the other hand, says alcohol was never really his thing. He jokingly recalled having half a beer after completing boot camp and becoming so sleepy that he nearly dozed off.
Family has remained especially important to the twins as they have grown older.
Jane’s daughter, Nancy, moved in with her mother in 2005 and eventually became her primary caregiver. She also helps Bill with shopping and medical appointments.
Bill affectionately jokes that he gets to “steal” Nancy from her mother.
Still making memories at 100
Despite their age, the siblings have continued to embrace experiences rather than simply looking back at the past.
For roughly 15 years, they travelled with relatives, visiting places such as Hawaii and Italy. One memorable Italian trip reportedly included misplaced passports and wallets, along with plenty of good wine.
Their final major trip before the COVID-19 pandemic was a tour of Western national parks, which included a visit to the Grand Canyon and a helicopter ride.
Today, family celebrations have become an important part of their lives. Jane’s home hosts large Christmas gatherings, with relatives travelling to spend time together.
Their recent 100th birthday celebration brought the extended family together once again.
After a century of life, the twins’ message is refreshingly uncomplicated: keep moving, stay connected to the people you love, look after your health and continue making memories.
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