Tucson Twins Turn 100

For many people the month of October is the beginning of a new season but for two Tucson sisters October marks the turn of a new century. On Sunday, October 26, twin sisters Alice Powers Treiber and Patricia Powers Glenn will turn 100 years old. The two were born in Huntington, West Virginia in 1925, 15 minutes apart, “It was a surprise. Our mom and dad were expecting one baby, they didn’t know they were pregnant with twins. The doctor delivered us at home on our farm and ended up staying for a short time to help our parents,” Alice told the New Outlook. The two were the couples only children, “I don’t think our mom and dad could handle anymore after us,” Patricia laughed.

A few years later the Great Depression began forcing the family to move to Arizona to reunite with their paternal grandmother, “Our father lost everything, it was hard. Coming west I remember it was a long, lonely drive because everything was so far apart. We pretended we could see indians up on the mountaintops,” Alice said. Patricia meanwhile recalls how her parents quietly talked with one another on the road, “I’m sure they were scared to death. I still remember seeing the canvas bag of water on the front seat to cool the car, a Pierce Arrow, down when it overheated.” She also recalls her mother telling a motel clerk that, “two dollars is too much for a room, so I’ll give you a dollar,” Alice laughed, “We were thrilled because it had a shower.”

When the family arrived in Tucson the twins quickly adjusted to their new home in midtown Tucson. Both girls graduated from Tucson High School in 1943, and both are converts to Catholicism, “I wanted rules, I wanted something to live by. The church was so quiet and peaceful,” Patricia said, she became Catholic at the age of 16. The twins say their parents didn’t practice a religion but didn’t discourage their searching for faith.  Alice joined the Church at 22, “There was a girl in college at the University of Arizona with me, and she was always leaving to go to Mass, and I thought, ‘there must be some reason why she goes everyday’.” Alice said Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church was nearby and the only church that wasn’t locked so she went in and immediately felt at home, “I had a friend who was a pilot and had been deployed to war. I thought I should pray for him.” The twins say they vividly remember planes flying over Tucson during World War II, sadly they both lost friends during the war. One day while Alice was in church she said the priest came up to her, “He asked if I was in trouble, I told him I wasn’t but that I was praying for my friend and he sat there with me, and we prayed together.” That experience began her faith journey and her time at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, “I graduated from the UA and started teaching at the school, I loved it there.” Coincidentally both women met men who were Catholic. Alice had five children and Patricia had 9, and both raised all their children and grandchildren Catholic, “We’ve tried in instill in our family that our faith teaches kindness, acceptance, forgiveness, and to love one another,” Alice said. She reflects on a quote, “God does not look for medals or testimonials he looks for your scars and to me that's beautiful.” For Patricia the heartache came when her five-year-old daughter died, “I have faith knowing I’ll see her face again. My faith carried me and my family through that. Though Alice, a teacher, lived in Tucson, and Patricia, a homemaker lived in Phoenix and then Sonoita, the two have always remained close writing each other letters, talking over the phone weekly, and getting the families together frequently.

As they prepare to celebrate their 100th birthday the two reflect on their undeniable similarities, both wear glasses, their hair is short and gray, they use walkers to get around, and both have outlived their husbands. Patricia said, “I’ve been pretty healthy except for a little skin cancer on my head, otherwise I’m fine.” Alice resides in a senior living community, while Patricia lives in her house. They can’t regularly attend Mass or watch it on television but they say prayer is a part of their daily lives. 

Beyond their faith and looks they share a delightful sense of humor, “I didn’t start to feel old until I was in my mid-80s,” Alice said, and for Patricia, “Oh, it was about my late 80s,” she laughed.  “We’ve got good genes, both sets of our grandparents and our parents lived to their 80s and 90s. They were always hard-working people,” Alice said. The secret they say is to eat well, stay busy, and no drinking or smoking.

As they reflect on the past, they recall switching dates while in high school, and changing seats to confuse the teacher, “There was never a dull moment,” Patricia said. Their special day of October 26th Alice said will be celebrated with dinner and bringing together family and friends, “We were so lucky that we always had each other, we’ve been great friends and God has been so good to us.”