'Always proud of my birthday': Alliance woman turning '21' on her leap day birthday

Benjamin Duer, Canton Repository
·2 min read
Michalene Saunier will gather Feb. 29, 2024, with her family on her 21st birthday. Saunier, who was born on leap day in 1940, is actually turning 84 this year.
Michalene Saunier will gather Feb. 29, 2024, with her family on her 21st birthday. Saunier, who was born on leap day in 1940, is actually turning 84 this year.

ALLIANCE − While it might not look like it, Michalene Saunier is celebrating her 21st birthday today.

When family and friends gather today for the Alliance resident's party, the leap year baby in reality will be 84 years old.

Saunier, the eldest daughter of the late Anna Fedor and boxer Mickey Fedor, was born on Feb. 29, 1940 − a leap day. So, every four years, she gets to celebrate her birthday on the actual date. In between, she celebrates on Feb. 28.

A family photo shows Michalene Saunier as a baby with her parents, Anna and Mickey Fedor. She was born on Feb. 29, 1940 - leap day - and celebrates her 21st birthday on Feb. 29, 2024.
A family photo shows Michalene Saunier as a baby with her parents, Anna and Mickey Fedor. She was born on Feb. 29, 1940 - leap day - and celebrates her 21st birthday on Feb. 29, 2024.

"She never liked it in March," said Christine Thomas, one of Saunier's four daughters. "She always said 'I wasn't born in March.'"

Saunier, looking forward to her party, said her father was "always proud of my birthday" and he always made a "good deal" of it.

Saunier was one of seven siblings who initially grew up in Waynesburg. Later, the family moved to Canton, followed by Louisville. The former Michalene Fedor married Robert Saunier on May 9, 1955, in Minerva. The couple raised four daughters in Louisville − Michele, Robin, Rhonda and Christine. Robin died in 2012.

Michalene Saunier and her late husband, Robert, posed for this photo to mark their 55th wedding anniversary with an announcement in 2010 in The Canton Repository. The couple were married 62 years. Robert Saunier died in 2018.
Michalene Saunier and her late husband, Robert, posed for this photo to mark their 55th wedding anniversary with an announcement in 2010 in The Canton Repository. The couple were married 62 years. Robert Saunier died in 2018.

Later, the couple lived in Homesworth for 18 years. They were married 62 years until Robert's death in 2018. Saunier has lived at Stone Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care since 2019, where she has a group of friends and stays active. She also has 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Saunier said she loves to play bingo and shop at Walmart. She used to work at Marc's and Green Farms in Alliance.

In 1968, The Canton Repository took this photo of Michalene Saunier, then 28, celebrating her 7th leap year birthday with her children.
In 1968, The Canton Repository took this photo of Michalene Saunier, then 28, celebrating her 7th leap year birthday with her children.

Thomas said she and her siblings have always had fun with their mom's leap day birthday. For example, they threw her a 'Sweet 16' party in 2004. "We had the kids wear poodle skirts and we danced. That was a lot of fun," she said.

Thomas, 62, along with sister Rhonda Keiser, who is 64, said they "always thought it was funny" when they got older than their mom.

"It's fun," Thomas said. "It's a fun day for her."

The family is planning to have pizza and cheesecake with cherries − a Saunier favorite − at a party today at Stone Creek.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alliance leap day baby Michalene Saunier marks 21st birthday