Muriel was born in a small town called Newburgh, Ontario east of Napanee. At age 17, she moved to Harrowsmith, another small town located north of Kingston. It is perhaps fitting that it is here, in a place known for its cheddar cheese, that Muriel started her career as a short-order cook.

"I love cooking so it was good to find something I enjoy as a career," she says. In her later years, Muriel moved to Napanee where she lived for 16 years and enjoyed a semi-retired life. She still liked to dabble in cooking though. And what is her favourite dish to make?

"Beef stroganoff. That has always been my signature dish."

Fractured knees led Muriel to come to Caressant Care in Marmora more than a year ago. But she enjoys life at her new home. She likes the food too and sometimes gives the chef a few suggestions.

"Well he does listen to me so I guess I am a bit of a food consultant now," she laughs.

And when she is not consulting on meals, she likes to pass the time reading, listening to country music : Conway Twitty and Hank Williams Senior are her favourites; and working on crocheting a new blanket in time for winter. She also likes to get in on the BINGO action and has been known to play a mean hand of Euchre.

But Muriel has a new recipe for a quality life that she is enjoying and happily shares with others.

"Sit back, relax and don't stress yourself."